About IFK

Discover Our 5 Tenets in the Study of Knowledge

Curious about what it means to study the formation of knowledge? Read the 5 tenets that guide our research at IFK.

Meet Our Research Scholars

Get to know our people and their research, from our core faculty to our postdoctoral researchers.

Learn About the Institute

Our mission is to educate a new generation to approach contemporary problems with historical worldviews, interdisciplinary methodologies, and cross-cultural understanding.

Cross-unit, cross-university participation; creating an ecosystem of interdisciplinary and team-based thinking

IFK's interdisciplinary orientation modeling Richard Utz's perfect union of Humanities-STEM integration

For The Public

Goodbye, Dr. Banda Lessons for the West author event March 27

Author Alexander Chula in conversation with Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer

IFK Cultures & Knowledge workshops throughout spring quarter

Join us for a workshops and events featuring UChicago and visiting Faculty

Prof. Gil Stein speaks to The World on looting in north Afghanistan; a topic covered in his spring KNOW course Cultural Heritage Management in Conflict Areas.

Prof. Stein and Marc Maillot co-teach a Cultural Heritage Management Conflict Areas. Check out our courses page for more information

IFK's Jens Ludwig takes part in the City Club of Chicago's event, "The Economic Ripple of Learning Loss and its Impact on Chicago’s Future"

This event hosted by the City Club of Chicago focuses on the economic impact of learning loss, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, on the future of Chicago. Click the link above to listen to this event.

For University Members

2023-24 Formation of Knowledge Thesis Awards Portal Now Open to ALL 4th Yrs: $1,000, $500, $250 prizes

Seeking theses which address topics related to social and historical influences shaping the formation of knowledge, and which most effectively cross and bridge disciplinary and divisional boundaries conclusions.

2024 IFK Spring Courses Registration NOW OPEN

"The [KNOW] course I took gave me the freedom to explore questions in more depth than has been allowed in other courses I have taken during my undergraduate experience. I would advocate adding KNOW to the Core."

Ask bigger questions. Learn about the Formation of Knowledge MAPSS program.

A Formation of Knowledge certificate is for students who seek rigorous training in the social sciences and critical exposure across academic disciplines, cultures, historical periods, as well as experiential learning.

How do people, cultures and governments come to "know" things? Learn about KNOW courses.

Join Gil Stein and Marc Maillot for Cultural Heritage Management in Conflict Areas

In The News

IFK's Rama Ranganathan in NYT: Dozens of Top Scientists Sign Effort to Prevent A.I. Bioweapons

Over 90 biologists and other scientists who specialize in A.I. technologies used to design new proteins — the microscopic mechanisms that drive all creations in biology — have signed an agreement that seeks to ensure tha

Prof. Daniel Holz features in The New York Times article, How to Create a Black Hole Out of Thin Air

Prof. Daniel Holz discusses new research that shows black holes may form in different ways than expected

Erin Adams features in The Chicago Tribune's article, "To make science more approachable, ‘Curiosity’ series takes viewers behind the scenes of scientists’ lives"

This article explores the work of Erin Adams, a molecular immunologist and vice provost for research at the University of Chicago.

Benoit Roux features in Phys.org's article, Molecular pump study explores how brine shrimp thrive in high salinity

The article discusses a study Benoit conducted with other scholars titled, ""A Na pump with reduced stoichiometry is upregulated by brine shrimp in extreme salinities""