The Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) is an interdisciplinary research centre of

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

. The IAS - set up to mark Durham's 175th anniversary - is intended to attract scholars and public figures from across the world to collaborate on 'agenda-setting research'. It is housed in the

Grade II* listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

Bishop Cosin's Hall, an early 18th century building on Palace Green, Durham, within the Durham

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. The Institute accepted its first

fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

s in January 2006 and was formally inaugurated into the university in October that year.

Mission

The goal of the IAS, in the university's own words, is to 'offer world-leading researchers a unique space for transformative reflection in and beyond individual disciplines'. Fellows selected by the university advance their own research, engage with academic departments, deliver public lectures and seminars, and contribute to research projects across the university. IAS activity is based around research projects across the

Sciences Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

Social Sciences Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of society, societies and the Social relation, relationships among members within those societies. The term was former ...

, Business and

Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including Philosophy, certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature a ...

. These projects are chosen to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on important questions. For the inaugural theme in 2006-2007 the university selected the "Legacy of Darwin" as a way of exploring the impact of Darwinian thought on multiple academic subjects. Since 2019 the Institute no longer runs annual themes, but instead supports major projects, and smaller development projects, across disciplines at Durham University. Some Fellows are associated with these projects, whilst others remain welcome to come to Durham through an open competition. In this way, the Institute aims to help support, develop, and grow ideas across Durham University which offer novel perspectives on important topics.

Fellowships

The IAS offers

ships to UK and international scholars. The Fellowships each last three months, with two cohorts of 10 participants joining in January and October. Applicants may be from any academic discipline or professional background, though preference is given to those applying from overseas. Each fellow becomes a member of one of the university's colleges. As well as accommodation, college membership also entails inclusion with the Senior Common Room and access to formal dinners and events. Every IAS Fellow, regardless of college affiliation, also receives honorary membership of the

University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies f ...

Senior Common Room and the right to take occasional meals at the college. In addition to the International Fellowship, academic members of Durham University that have led IAS projects, or hosted IAS Fellows, form the institute's Associate Fellowship which offers an interdisciplinary community within and across Durham University. The IAS also acts as host for some other Fellowships at Durham University such as th
Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship

Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship

* 2023 Waylon Cunningham * 2024 Rosa Furneaux * 2025 Pete McKenzie

Addison Wheeler Fellowship

Directorate

The IAS is run by a Director and four co-directors, each linked to one of Durham University's four faculties. The directors are responsible for the academic calendar and research events of the IAS.

Advisory Council

The advisory council works alongside the directors. It meets once a year to develop the academic calendar of the IAS and aid in its promotion through members acting as ambassadors to the IAS and advising on new research themes. The council consists of representatives from Durham University, and from other universities from across Britain and overseas.

References

External links

IAS homepageTHS Article on IAS
{{University of Durham 2006 establishments in England Durham University Research institutes in County Durham Multidisciplinary research institutes