In conjunction with the recent announcement of the Leinweber Foundation’s $90 million gift to establish a network of Leinweber Institutes for Theoretical Physics, the University of Michigan’s Leinweber Center for Theoretical Physics is being renamed the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics at Michigan.

Established in 2017, U-M is the inaugural partner of the Leinweber network and will now be part of a collaborative with four of the nation’s top research universities: the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), along with the Leinweber Forum for Theoretical and Quantum Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study.

“We are excited to be a partner in the Leinweber Institutes for Theoretical Physics,” said Fred Adams, director of the University of Michigan’s Leinweber Institute. “Our physics department has had the privilege of working with the Leinweber Foundation since 2017, and this new national expansion highlights the fact that we can make a greater impact on society when we work together. Collaborating with other leading institutions will ensure that we continue to promote and advocate for theoretical physics research for generations to come, as well as educate future generations of physicists.”

In addition to the name change, the gift will establish the Leinweber Physics Fellows at U-M, which will provide funding for postdoctoral and graduate students studying theoretical physics. These fellows at U-M will also join a cohort of Leinweber Physics Fellows across all five institutions, cultivating a dynamic community of early-career scientists poised to shape the future of American scientific research and innovation.

This is the largest gift ever for theoretical physics research and the largest initiative of this scale. Funding will support and expand existing programs at each institution and encourage cross-collaboration, including regular big picture collaborations and convenings of the Leinweber Physics Fellows across all participating institutions in the Leinweber network. 

“We are truly appreciative of the Leinweber Foundation’s generosity and vision,” said Rosario Ceballo, dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan. “Bolstering collaborative, cross-school partnerships in natural science research will have a large and lasting impact on faculty and students in the College of LSA. The Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics at Michigan ensures that we can support cutting-edge physics research, cultivate the top scholars in the field, and create a setting that facilitates the exploration and sharing of knowledge across schools.”

The former Leinweber Center for Theoretical Physics was endowed by the Leinweber Foundation as part of an initial $10 million investment in the U-M Department of Physics. Prior to that, it was known as the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics. Since its inception, it has supported postdoctoral fellows and graduate students and welcomed more than 2,500 visitors for educational workshops, conferences, and other programming.

The Leinweber Foundation is a Michigan-based family foundation dedicated to advancing broader society by investing in three key mission areas: research, education, and community. The Leinweber Foundation strives to support innovative and impactful research, expand access to education for students from underserved and rural areas, and support the health and vitality of the community and beyond.

“This gift is a commitment to America’s scientific future,” said Larry Leinweber, founder and president of the Leinweber Foundation. “Theoretical physics may seem abstract to many, but it is the tip of the spear for innovation. It fuels our understanding of how the world works and opens the door to new technologies that can shape society for generations. As someone who has had a lifelong fascination with theoretical physics, I hope this investment not only strengthens U.S. leadership in basic science, but also inspires curiosity, creativity, and groundbreaking discoveries for generations to come.”

To learn more about the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics at Michigan, visit the website. To learn more about the U-M Department of Physics, visit the website.

 

Photography by Leinweber Foundation

 

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