• Asteroid Deflection. In order to prevent future impacts on Earth of asteroids big enough to penetrate the atmosphere, we are exploring ways to deflect Earth-crossing asteroids. The B612 Foundation, a core group of astrophysicists and astronauts in collaboration with other scientists and engineers, is studying the use of plasma engines with the goal of significantly altering the orbit of an asteroid in a controlled manner by 2015
• A Computational Laboratory. We have started an open source project, with the aim of integrating research and education. We are writing a series of books that we are making available on our web site The Art of Computational Science. This series will provide a student with a hands-on guide to building a computational laboratory, and doing state-of-the-art research with it. We invite (astro)physicists and computer scientists to collaborate with us in order to broaden the terrain covered.
• Modeling Dense Stellar Systems. Another initiative on the interface between astrophysics and computer science, MODEST is a loosely knit collaboration between various groups working in stellar dynamics, stellar evolution, and stellar hydrodynamics. Our aim is to provide a software framework for large-scale simulations of dense stellar systems, within which existing computer codes for dynamics, stellar evolution, and hydrodynamics can be easily coupled.
• Science and Human Values. We have held a number of weekend workshops, conferences, and summer schools on the topics values in a world of fact and ways of knowing, under the auspices of the Kira Institute. A topic of special interest is the role of human experience in a world that is described in ever more detail by scientific frameworks.
• Topics in Theoretical Astrophysics. In addition to the various interdisciplinary initiatives listed above, faculty member Piet Hut continues his primary work in theoretical astrophysics. Some of his recent results can be found in his publication list.
• Topics in Ethics and the Environment. Victoria Kamsler, a visitor in the interdisciplinary program from 2003 till 2006, was teachng ethics and political philosophy in the Philosophy Department at Princeton. While at IAS, her research interests included democratic theory, Amartya Sen's capabilities theory, environmental ethics, and the history of utopian thought.
• Ways of Knowing. How does the empirical approach of science compare to other ways of establishing meaningful knowledge? What can science say about ontological questions concerning the nature of reality? How can we conduct conversations between different ways of knowing? In 2006 we have started to explore these types of questions through a variety of media, from email exchange and actual workshops to the use of virtual worlds.

For more information about current activities in the Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, see also the list of visitors.

Back to Interdisciplinary Studies home page

Back to Institute for Advanced Study home page

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A note about the illustrations on the home page of the Program in Interdisciplinary Studies. The left picture symbolizes a surprising new result in the gravitational three-body problem, the oldest unsolved problem in mathematical physics: a figure-eight orbit, discovered at the end of the twentieth century [artwork by Maryleen Schiltkamp]. The right picture symbolizes nature and culture in this sublunary world of ours: a tree growing out of the top of an abandoned chimney in Istanbul, seen against the moon [photograph by Piet Hut].

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