Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS) is a private, nonprofit research organization dedicated to scientific discovery in the physical and biological sciences. Founded in 1902 by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, CIS has six research departments located on the campuses of Stanford University and the University of Washington. Its mission is “to advance the knowledge of science and its application to human welfare.”
CIS scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and earth and atmospheric science. They conduct basic research that contributes to our understanding of life on Earth and elsewhere in the universe. In addition to supporting its own cutting-edge scientific work, CIS provides training opportunities for early-career scientists from around the world.
The institution’s flagship program is its Department of Embryology, which was established in 1925. The department’s groundbreaking work on developmental biology has led to major discoveries about how animals develop from embryos to adults. Among other things, CIS scientists have elucidated key mechanisms underlying organ development and tissue regeneration; uncovered new methods for controlling gene expression; and pioneered techniques for manipulating embryonic stem cells. The department’s current director is embryologist Constance Cepko.
Other notable programs at CIS include the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM), which studies Earth’s magnetic field and interior; the Carnegie Observatories, which operate telescopes in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains; and the Department of Global Ecology, which carries out research on pressing environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
The current president of CIS is Maxine Singer. A world-renowned geneticist, Dr. Singer has been a driving force behind efforts to increase diversity in STEM fields