The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, as one of the 2026 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. The National Institute will celebrate Ms Breen and our other Honorees at the 112th Annual Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
Jimmy Wales to Receive 2026 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Jimmy Wales, founder of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, as one of the 2026 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. The National Institute will celebrate Mr. Wales and our other Honorees at the 112th Annual Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
Jon Meacham to Receive 2026 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, historian, and writer, as one of the 2026 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. The National Institute will celebrate Mr. Meacham and our other Honorees at the 112th Annual Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
Louise Mirrer to Receive 2026 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of The New York Historical, as one of the 2026 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. The National Institute will celebrate Dr. Mirrer and our other Honorees at the 112th Annual Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
National Institute Invites Nominations for its 2026 Dissertation Grants
The National Institute of Social Sciences is pleased to invite nominations for its 2026 Dissertation Grants Program. NISS Dissertation Grants are designed to support outstanding Ph.D. students who need additional resources to complete doctoral work that promises to significantly advance their fields of study.
111th Annual Gold Medal Gala Honors Eisgruber, Goldin, and Gopnik
On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the National Institute held its 111th Annual Gold Medal Gala, honoring Christopher Eisgruber, Claudia Goldin, and Alison Gopnik at a lavish ceremony and dinner at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan, New York City.
In Memoriam: Agnes Gund
The Board of Trustees and Officers of the National Institute of Social Sciences are saddened to inform you of the death of 2010 Gold Medal Honoree Agnes Gund. Ms Gund passed away on September 18, 2025 in New York City. She was 87 years old.
2025 Gold Medal Gala Tickets on Sale
You are cordially invited to the 111th Annual Gold Medal Gala, honoring Christopher Eisgruber, Claudia Goldin, and Alison Gopnik. This event will take place live in person on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 6:00 to 9:30 pm Eastern Time at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.
Tickets and tables are limited. Reserve your spot today!
In Person Event: AI and the Changing Entertainment Landscape
Please join the Trustees and Members of the National Institute of Social Sciences and industry professionals for a fascinating evening of cocktails, conversation, and networking. Learn about our organization and hear from entertainment industry professionals working in this new and challenging era of artificial intelligence.
Christopher Eisgruber to Receive 2025 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Christopher Eisgruber, President of Princeton University, as one of the 2025 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. President Eisgruber and the other Honorees will be celebrated at the 111th Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
Alison Gopnik to Receive 2025 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Alison Gopnik, developmental psychologist, cognitive scientist, and philosopher of mind at UC Berkeley, as one of the 2025 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. Professor Gopnik and the other Honorees will be celebrated at the 111th Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
Claudia Goldin to Receive 2025 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Claudia Goldin, Nobel Prize-winning labor economist at Harvard University, as one of the 2025 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. Professor Goldin and the other Honorees will be celebrated at the 111th Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
2025 Dissertation Grants Awarded
National Institute Invites Nominations for its 2025 Dissertation Grants
The National Institute of Social Sciences is pleased to invite nominations for its 2025 Dissertation Grants Program. NISS Dissertation Grants are designed to support outstanding Ph.D. students who need additional resources to complete doctoral work that promises to significantly advance their fields of study.
Help Us Defend Knowledge
110th Annual Gold Medal Gala Honors Burns, Remnick, and Stevenson
On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the National Institute held its 110th Annual Gold Medal Gala, honoring Ken Burns, David Remnick, and Bryan Stevenson at a lavish ceremony and dinner at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.
National Institute Sponsors AAA’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition
The National Institute is proud to have sponsored the American Anthropological Association’s 2024 Three-Minute Thesis competition, which helps social science scholars develop presentation, research, and academic communication skills and supports the development of their capacity to explain their work effectively to lay audiences.
Polls Polls Polls: Who’s Right, Wrong, and Why Do or Don’t They Matter? (video)
On November 2, 2024 the National Institute presented the third in a series of webinars entitled "What's at Stake: Expert Perspectives on the 2024 Election," hosted by Professor Anthea Butler of the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Professor Fredrick Harris of Columbia University discusses the recent polling of the 2024 election cycle, paying attention to the groups not often polled during election cycles as well as the usefulness of polling and what it can and can’t measure.
Body Politics: Legal Issues in the 2024 Election Cycle (video)
On October 9, 2024 the National Institute presented the second of a series of webinars entitled "What's at Stake: Expert Perspectives on the 2024 Election," hosted by Professor Anthea Butler of the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Professor Tobias Wolff of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School discusses his work and research on how abortion, LGBTQ issues, gender, and sexuality play a role in defining the 2024 election cycle from a legal perspective.
Threats to American Democracy: 2024 as a Defining Year (video)
On September 25, 2024 the National Institute presented the first of a series of webinars entitled "What's at Stake: Expert Perspectives on the 2024 Election," hosted by Professor Anthea Butler of the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University discusses her book Strongmen and identifies the threats to American democracy that are at stake in the 2024 election cycle.