New Global Research Center a Rosetta Stone for Understanding the Universe at All Scales
The theories researchers use to describe the universe at small and large scales—from the Standard Model of particle physics to general relativity—have proven incredibly successful. Yet, such theories remain incompatible with one another and carry their own limitations. In order to better understand the universe at all scales, leading experts have established the Max Planck-IAS-NTU Center (MPC) for Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Geometry—a collaborative research initiative between the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (MPG) in Germany; the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, NJ, U.S.; and National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taipei, Taiwan.
"By uniting the expertise and scientific potential of its three founding partners under a single umbrella, the Center forms a global hub for excellence and knowledge transfer in theoretical physics," stated Johannes Henn, Marvin L. Goldberger Member (2011–15) in the School of Natural Sciences, now based at the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP). "It enables collaborative research across institutional and disciplinary boundaries, fostering synergies that span from novel mathematical frameworks relevant to quantum field theory to interactions of elementary particles and to the physics of the early universe."
Particle physics seeks to understand the fundamental building blocks of matter at scales smaller than the proton or neutron, while cosmology considers the structure and evolution of the universe on the largest scales. Recently, surprising new connections have emerged between particle physics, cosmology, and geometry, hinting at radical new ways of conceptualizing the physics of particle scattering and the initial conditions of the Big Bang. By uniting these three disciplines, researchers hope to gain new insights into the universe that would otherwise be inaccessible from the perspective of each field alone. In this way, the Center will act as a cosmic Rosetta Stone, aimed at deciphering the deep mysteries of the universe.
"One of the most remarkable discoveries of modern cosmology is that the hot Big Bang was not the beginning of time. A fascinating question is what happened before the hot Big Bang and how it created the initial conditions for the structures we see in the late universe," said Daniel Baumann, William D. Loughlin Member (2009–11) in the School of Natural Sciences, now Chee-Chun Leung Professor of Cosmology at NTU. "By joining together experts in the fields of particle physics, cosmology, and geometry, we hope that this Center will produce new insights into these profound questions about the early universe and the physical laws that governed it."
Engaging world-class researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and students, the Center will also include scholars with expertise in observational cosmology and astrophysics to complement its theoretical efforts. The Center is committed to excellence and to identifying and recruiting talent wherever it is found. Key activities will include focused workshops, international conferences, summer schools, and collaborative visits, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas across disciplines and geographic boundaries.
"A decade ago, it would have seemed absurd to particle physicists and cosmologists that the description of colliding elementary particles at accelerators or the generation of density perturbations during inflation would have anything whatsoever to do with aspects of combinatorics, algebra, and geometry. This connection would have seemed equally absurd to the mathematicians," remarked Nima Arkani-Hamed, Gopal Prasad Professor in the School of Natural Sciences. "That these developments have come to pass has been an extremely stimulating shock to all three communities. I expect this Center to allow us to take major strides in understanding what this surprise is all about."
Funding from IAS for this initiative was made possible by the Jonathan M. Nelson Center for Collaborative Research, which is dedicated to advancing foundational knowledge and facilitating the conditions for discovery. The MPC is among the first approved projects of the Nelson Center, which is supporting collaborations between scholars and across disciplines and institutions to reimagine the future of research.
The Center will begin operations in July 2025, with five years of initial funding. The three co-directors of the Center are Johannes Henn (MPP), Nima Arkani-Hamed (IAS), and Daniel Baumann (NTU). Deputy co-directors are Matias Zaldarriaga (IAS), Bernd Sturmfels (MPI-MiS), and Yu-tin Huang (NTU). An opening symposium at NTU will take place from September 1–3, 2025 and a kick-off conference at IAS is planned for March 16–20, 2026.
About Max Planck Centers
Max Planck Centers (MPCs) are collaborative research initiatives between the Max Planck Society in Germany and leading research institutions abroad. These centers serve as hubs of excellence, bringing together top scientists from different countries to work on cutting-edge scientific questions across various disciplines. Each center is formed through a partnership between one or more Max Planck Institutes and international institutions. The centers concentrate on specific research themes, enabling deep and sustained collaboration in well-defined scientific areas. The centers promote scientific exchange, especially for junior scientists, via joint workshops, shared projects, and cross-institutional training. Max Planck Centers are initially established for five years, with the possibility of an extension of five years after successful evaluation. They symbolize a long-term commitment to collaborative science at the highest level.
About the Partner Institutions
The Max Planck Society (MPG) is Germany's leading research organization, internationally renowned for its excellence in basic research. Founded in 1948 as the successor to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, it counts 31 Nobel laureates among its ranks. Its current 84 institutes and research facilities pursue cutting-edge research across the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP), established in 1917 with Albert Einstein as its first director, stands out for its contributions to fundamental physics. Over the decades, it has been home to prominent figures such as Max von Laue, Peter Debye, Werner Heisenberg, Ludwig Biermann, Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, Hans-Peter Dürr and Julius Wess. Today, three experimental and four theoretical departments explore fundamental questions in particle physics. Since relocating to the Garching science campus in 2023, the institute recently moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility to support its mission.
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) is a leading center for theoretical research and discovery dedicated to advancing the frontiers of knowledge across the sciences and humanities. Each year, 250 of the world's most promising post-doctoral researchers and scholars are welcomed as Members to a campus dedicated to collaboration, excellence, and independent inquiry. They are mentored by a permanent Faculty, all of whom are preeminent leaders in their fields. Among present and past Faculty and Members are Albert Einstein, Erwin Panofsky, J. Robert Oppenheimer, 37 Nobel Laureates, 46 of the 64 Fields Medalists, 24 of the 28 Abel Prize Laureates, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows, and winners of the Turing, Wolf, Holberg, Kluge, and Pulitzer Prizes.
Founded in 1928, National Taiwan University (NTU) is the most prestigious university in Taiwan. It consists of 11 colleges, 56 departments, 133 graduate institutes, and 60 research centers. NTU has produced many notable alumni, including the former presidents of Taiwan Tsai Ing-Wen, Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, and Ma Ying-jeou. The physics department at NTU includes strong groups in theoretical particle physics and cosmology. In 2007, the university created the Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (LeCosPA) which will be hosting the MPC. Funded by a generous donation of Chee-Chun Leung (President of Quanta Computer), LeCosPA is home to faculty, postdocs and students in a wide range of areas of cosmology and astroparticle physics.
Contact:
Lee Sandberg, Communications and Public Relations Manager
Institute for Advanced Study
lsandberg@ias.edu; (609) 455-4398
Diana López-Falcón, Scientific Coordinator
Max Planck Institute for Physics
Anne Lee, Institute Manager
Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics
National Taiwan University
Provided by Institute for Advanced Study
