Carnegie Institution of Washington

Andrew Carnegie established a unique organization dedicated to scientific discovery Òin the broadest and most liberal manner.Ó The philosophy was and is to devote the institutionÕs resources to ÒexceptionalÓ individuals so that they can explore the most intriguing scientific questions in an atmosphere of complete freedom.

Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1902 as an organization for scientific discovery. His intention was for institution to be home to exceptional individualsÑmen and women with imagination and extraordinary dedication capable of working at the cutting edge of their fields. Today, Carnegie scientists work in six scientific departments on the West and East Coasts. Our legal name, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, has led to confusion because four of our departments are outside Washington and because our legal name does not distinguish us from other non-profits created by our donor. As a result, the institution adopted a new look and name in 2007Ñthe Carnegie Institution for Science. The new name closely associates the words ÒCarnegieÓ and ÒscienceÓ and thereby reveals our core identity. The institution remains officially and legally the Carnegie Institution of Washington, but now has a public identity that more clearly describes our work. Carnegie investigators are leaders in the fields of plant biology, developmental biology, Earth and planetary sciences, astronomy, and global ecology. They seek answers to questions about the structure of the universe, the formation of our solar system and other planetary systems, the behavior and transformation of matter when subjected to extreme conditions, the origin of life, the function of genes, and the development of organisms from single-celled egg to adult. Source: www.ciw.edu