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.
Young Friends Networking Social
NEW WEBINAR SERIES: "What's at Stake: Expert Perspectives on the 2024 Election"
Please join us as we host a series of educational webinars focused on the upcoming general election in the United States. The series brings together subject matter experts in one-on-one conversations about various political and social issues at stake in this year’s election cycle, which is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic, momentous, and consequential in years. Moderated by Professor Anthea Butler of the University of Pennsylvania.
2024 Dissertation Grants Awarded
2024 Gold Medal Gala Tickets on Sale
You are cordially invited to the 110th Annual Gold Medal Gala, honoring Ken Burns, David Remnick, and Bryan Stevenson. This event will take place live in person on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 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!
David Remnick to Receive 2024 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce David Remnick, journalist, author, and Editor of The New Yorker, as one of the 2024 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. Mr. Remnick and the other Honorees will be celebrated at the 110th Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
Ken Burns to Receive 2024 Gold Honor Medal
The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce documentarian and filmmaker Ken Burns as one of the 2024 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity. Mr. Burns and the other Honorees will be celebrated at the 110th Gold Medal Gala, which will be held in person in New York City on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.