2022-2000History

In 2000, Fred Kavli created a foundation to advance science for the benefit of humanity. Since that time, The Kavli Foundation has endowed 20 Kavli Institutes globally, supporting basic research in astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience and theoretical physics; established the international Kavli Prizes honoring scientists in celebration of breakthroughs that transform our understanding of the big (astrophysics), the small (nanoscience) and the complex (neuroscience); and developed a program to engage the public in science, strengthen science journalism, and support the vitality of the scientific enterprise. We invite you to explore some of the foundation’s major milestones in its first two decades.

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000

Feb 2022

Emily Carter and Shirley Malcom join board of diretctors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Feb 2021

Distinguished Science Communicator Award bestowed 

  • Prizes and Awards

Jan 2021

SciPEP created 

  • Science and Society
  • Public Engagement with Science

Jan 2021

Cynthia M. Friend joins as third president 

  • Foundation
  • President

Dec 2020

Kavli Nanoscience Discovery Institute 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

May 2020

2020 Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Feb 2020

The Endless Frontier: The Next 75 Years of Science 

  • Science and Society
  •  

Nov 2019

TED@NAS 

  • Science and Society

May 2018

2018 Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Dec 2017

International Brain Initiative formed 

  • Science
  • IBI

Dec 2017

Alda-Kavli Learning Center created 

  • Communications
  • Science Communication

Jul 2017

Foundation relocates to Los Angeles 

  • Foundation

Apr 2017

Fred Kavli Auditorium established at National Academy of Sciences 

  • Foundation
  •  

Jun 2016

Public Engagement with Science program created 

  • Science and Society

May 2016

2016 Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Dec 2015

Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Oct 2015

Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Sep 2015

Kavli Neural Systems Institute 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jun 2015

Brain Initiative Alliance formed 

  • Science
  • Initiatives

Apr 2015

AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards endowment doubles 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • AAAS Science Journalism Awards

Jul 2014

Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

May 2014

2014 Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Feb 2014

Neurodata Without Borders proposed 

  • Science

Feb 2014

Mary Sue Coleman and Richard Meserve join board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Jan 2014

Gunnar Nilsen joins board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Dec 2013

Rockell N. Hankin elected chair of the board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Nov 2013

Fred Kavli leaves wealth to the foundation 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Jul 2013

Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Apr 2013

U.S. BRAIN Initiative announced 

  • Science
  •  

Mar 2013

Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

May 2012

2012 Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Jan 2012

Science Philanthropy Alliance formed 

  • Foundation

Dec 2011

Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Oct 2011

First Royal Society Kavli Medal and Lecture 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Royal Society Medal

Oct 2011

Fred Kavli receives Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Jun 2011

Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • The Kavli Prize

Jan 2011

Fred Kavli received Franklin Institute Bower Award for Business Leadership 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Sep 2010

Alan Alda hosts The Kavli Prize Ceremony 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • The Kavli Prize

May 2010

2010 Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Oct 2009

First Carnegie Institution for Science Kavli Prize Laureate Lecture 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Apr 2009

Robert W. Conn joins as second president 

  • Foundation
  • President 

Nov 2008

Kavli Prize Laureates Honored at The White House 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Jun 2008

AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards Endowment 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • AAAS Science Journalism Awards

May 2008

First Kavli Prizes awarded 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Apr 2008

The Kavli Charitable Trust established 

  • Foundation
  • Trustees - Kavli Charitable Trust

Aug 2007

Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Apr 2007

Henry Yang joins board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Jan 2007

First Kavli Futures Symposium 

  • Science
  •  

Oct 2006

Kavli Institute for Cosmology 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jul 2006

Fred Kavli receives Royal Norwegian Order of Merit 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Jun 2006

Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jun 2006

Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

May 2006

Kavli Institute for Bionano Science & Technology 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Apr 2006

Fred Kavli elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Oct 2005

Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposia 

  • Science
  • Grants

May 2005

The Kavli Prize established 

  • Prizes and Awards
  • Kavli Prize

Jan 2005

Charles M. Vest joins board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Aug 2004

Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jul 2004

Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Apr 2004

Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Mar 2004

Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jan 2004

Kavli Institute for Brain Science 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Dec 2003

Kavli Institute for Neuroscience 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Dec 2003

Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Nov 2003

Kavli Nanoscience Institute 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jan 2003

Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

May 2002

David H. Auston named foundation’s first president 

  • Foundation
  • President 

Dec 2001

Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics 

  • Science
  • Kavli Institutes

Jul 2001

Tom Everhart and Jack Peltason join board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

Dec 2000

 The Kavli Foundation established 

  • Foundation
  •  

Dec 2000

Rockell Hankin, Douglas Freeman and Fred Kavli form the board of directors 

  • Foundation
  • Board of Directors

today