News: 2025

May

The Future of AI panel – Alumni Weekend 2025

May 30, 2025

Becca Willett, Kate Knibbs, and Ben Zhao at Alumni Weekend panel

Watch a dynamic panel discussion featuring leading Computer Science faculty—Michael Franklin, Becca Willett, Ben Zhao, and Ce Zhang—moderated by WIRED’s Kate Knibbs. This recorded conversation explores the future of AI, its societal impact, and pressing ethical issues like privacy, bias, and fairness.


Leinweber Foundation and University of Chicago establish a $23M endowment for theoretical physics

May 28, 2025

quantum simulation

New UChicago institute joins a $90 million nationwide network advancing fundamental inquiry and collaboration in physics.


Fermilab opens applications for 2025 Global Physics Photowalk contest

May 24, 2025

Components of the IOTA Proton Injector at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology facility.

Fermilab has started accepting applications for a local photo contest this summer as part of a global contest. Photographers will be able to capture behind the science areas at Fermilab for a chance to be entered into the international competition this fall.
 


2025 Ai+Science Hackathon challenges students to take on cutting-edge scientific problems with AI

May 24, 2025

Members of student teams presented their approaches to the audience of students, mentors, event judges, and other supporters.

Annual event invites students from across departments to apply machine learning methods to advance scientific discovery.
 


More control, less connection: how user control affects robot social agency

May 24, 2025

Diagram containing images that represent potential human interaction.

PhD Candidate Alex Wuqi Zhang studies whether allowing users to customize robot behavior might reduce how intelligent, autonomous, and agentic AI-powered robots seem to them.


Prize Winners for Educational Excellence 2025

May 23, 2025

students in classroom

This year, ten PSD instructors and students have been honored for excellence in teaching the next generation of scientists.


UChicago announces 2025 winners of Quantrell and PhD teaching awards

May 22, 2025

David Cash (left) and Bryan Dickinson

Congratulations to Professor of Computer Science David Cash and Professor of Chemistry Bryan Dickinson! In recognition of their incredible teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students, Cash received a Llewellyn John and Harriet Manchester Quantrell Award, and Dickinson was awarded a PhD Teaching and Mentoring Award.


Vincenzo Vitelli named Fellow-Ambassador by the CNRS

May 21, 2025

Vincenzo Vitelli

An internationally renowned theorical physicist, Vitelli was recognized for his defining contributions to the fields of statistical physics, soft matter, and active matter.


Mark Levin, Associate Professor of Chemistry, receives a 2025 National Brown Investigator Award

May 19, 2025

Mark Levin

Congratulations to Mark Levin! Each investigator, recognized for curiosity-driven research in chemistry or physics, will receive up to $2 million over five years.


Richard L. Garwin, a creator of the hydrogen bomb, dies at 97

May 17, 2025

Richard Garwin

Many scientists contributed to the final result, but UChicago alumnus Richard Garwin was the one who, as a young physicist, designed the world’s most powerful weapon. He went on to advise a dozen presidents.


High school financial literacy course can reduce Illinois poverty

May 17, 2025

Crop anonymous person calculating profit on smartphone calculator near banknotes.

Research shows financial literacy boosts economic opportunity. The success of the University of Chicago’s FinEDge program shows it should be expanded.


Finding beauty and truth in mundane occurrences

May 17, 2025

Sid Nagel holding cardboard toy that demos physics concept

The physicist Sidney Nagel delights in solving mysteries of the universe that are hiding in plain sight.


Meet the ‘Planet Hunter’ searching for alien life, with Jacob Bean

May 17, 2025

Orange sun hidden behind clouds with rocky terrain.

In this episode of Big Brains, astrophysicist Jacob Bean studies atmospheres of distant worlds to identify habitable exoplanets.
 


At UChicago, mentorship drives the ‘front line of discovery’

May 17, 2025

Fourth-year Daniel Babnigg, left, and his mentor, astronomy and astrophysics Prof. Mike Gladders.

Professor Mike Gladders helps transform students from learner to researcher through in-person astrophysical observation and research. 


SRM360 launches to bring clarity and context to sunlight reflection methods

May 17, 2025

Sunlight with white clouds.

SRM360, a new nonprofit initiative co-founded by CSEi research assistant professor Peter Irvine, officially launches to bring clarity and context to the complex world of sunlight reflection methods (SRM).