“The difficulty of our time is a difficulty of the human spirit.” As global instability echoes the conditions that sparked the Institute’s founding, our CEO, Christine Maiden Sharp shares reflections from Aspen, Colorado, where she joined the International Partners to mark the Institute’s 75th anniversary. In a moment shaped by both turbulence and hope, she explores why the founding vision remains urgent today, what it means to lead with principle, and how a global network can help us respond to the challenges ahead.

In Favour of Pure Science, a collaboration between the 14 international Aspen Partners, is the final report detailing pure science's global challenges and opportunities. The accompanying symposium was an engaging and thought-provoking discussion among the Partner representatives, including New Zealand's Professor Richard Blaikie.

The Principles of the Aspen Institute have recently been reviewed and updated to reflect the modern environment we now operate within, and the modern challenges we face as a society. We are proud to share these updated Principles with our community.

A far reaching conversation with a group of experts discussed the state of pure (basic) research in New Zealand co-chaired by Aaron Mertz, Director of Aspen Institute’s Science & Society Program and Christine Maiden Sharp, CEO of Aspen Institute New Zealand.

“Overall, New Zealand underspends and undervalues science & research. Pure science is vital to remain economically competitive and needs to be more inclusive and relevant, to increase trust and impact”.