People at Kira Institute

Current Faculty:

  Piet Hut

Piet Hut is Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. While his main research area is theoretical astrophysics, part of his research involves multidisciplinary collaborations, from geology, paleontology and cognitive science to particle physics and computer science. Some of his current projects are related to the deflection of asteroids, through the B612 Foundation, the development of software systems large-scale simulations in astrophysics, through the MODEST initiative, and the GRAPE project of developing high-speed special purpose computers.
email: piet ATSIGN ias.edu

  Roger N. Shepard

Roger N. Shepard is Ray Lyman Wilbur Professor of Social Science Emeritus in Stanford's Department of Psychology. He is now completing a book based on his 1994 William James Lectures at Harvard, "Mind and World." His previous books include Mental Images and Their Transformations (MIT Press, 1982) and Mind Sights (W. H. Freeman, 1990). Shepard is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the 1995 National Medal of Science.


  Steven A. Tainer

Steven A. Tainer has studied Eastern philosophical and contemplative traditions intensively since 1970, and now teaches Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian fundamentals, both for groups around the country and at the Institute for World Religions in Berkeley, CA., where he is a faculty member. He also has a background in logic and philosophy of science, and is preparing books evaluating the interface between modern, scientifically-framed perspectives and matters involving human values. Working on behalf of his teachers, Mr. Tainer is the coauthor or editor of over eighteen books on Buddhism and Taoism (including Dragon's Play, and Time, Space, Knowledge).


  Arthur G. Zajonc

Arthur G. Zajonc is Professor of Physics at Amherst College. His research has been in the experimental foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum optics. He combines these with studies in the history and philosophy of science, and the relation of science to the humanities. He is the author of Catching the Light and the co-author of The Quantum Challenge.

Previous Faculty:

  Bas C. van Fraassen

Bas C. van Fraassen is Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University. He has published several books on the philosophy of science, including The Scientific Image, Quantum Mechanics: An Empiricist View and The Empirical Stance. Besides philosophy of science, his interests include philosophy of literature and the connections between art, literature and science.

Our webmaster is:

  Jeff Thompson

Jeff Thompson studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While formally working in this field, he informally studied philosophy, psychology and ecology. He also studied microrobotics at University of California, Berkeley (see the archived graduate research page), and now works as a software engineer in automated microfabrication.

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