Perspectives are essays that express our point of view on important topics. The topics range from the value of fundamental science to how to fund research to why we show up for work. Our perspectives are shaping the national and global debate on how to organise discovery.
Ukraine war11 Jun
Beyond politics
Russia's brain drain is Britain’s gain. Yet the pursuit of knowledge, through global scientific collaboration, should transcend politics.
AI-assisted maths14 May
Conjuring conjectures
In a Nature World View piece, our director Thomas Fink argues that mathematics is an ideal testing ground for AI-assisted discovery.
Science history16 Mar
Let's talk about science
For its 225th birthday, our writer Thomas Hodgkinson hails the Royal Institution as proof of the vital importance of science communication.
Creativity11 Jan
The art of blackboards
In a piece in Nautilus, our scientists talk about why they prefer the 1,000-year-old technology of blackboards to their digital equivalents.
AI-assisted maths9 Jan
A Birch for AI's back
In a Nature correspondence, our scientists argue that, by the terms of "the Birch test", no AI has yet made a genuine mathematical discovery.
Discovery5 Sep 2023
Science goes pro
Professional sport has a lot to teach scientists about pushing the limits of human achievement—so why are we still content to be amateurs?
Ukraine war23 Feb 2023
Science without borders
Our Arnold and Landau Fellowships continue a tradition of contact and collaboration between British and Russian scientists dating back to Newton.
Discovery13 Feb 2023
Accelerating science
In a letter in The Times, our Director Thomas Fink argues that supporting independent research centres will accelerate discovery for Britain.
Mathematics9 Dec 2022
The beautiful game
The beautiful game of mathematics, accelerating discovery by seeing patterns among the patterns, deserves a Nobel prize all of its own.
Ukraine war10 Oct 2022
Landau lives on
In the Thunderer column of The Times, Thomas Fink argues that Britain should open its doors to Russia’s top physicists and mathematicians.
Ukraine war6 Oct 2022
Boost for British science
In Nature, the London Institute argues that its five new Research Fellowships for Russian theorists will be a boost for British science.
Ukraine war1 Jul 2022
History repeats itself
The Royal Institution supported scientists fleeing 1930s authoritarianism. Now, thanks to our Arnold Fellowships, history repeats itself.
Ukraine war13 May 2022
From Russia with math
History suggests our new posts for physicists and mathematicians from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus will have an enduring impact on UK science.
Design21 Apr 2022
Designing web design
To mark our Webby nomination, we describe the design principles behind our website and how they evolved in tandem with the Institute itself.
Work7 Jun 2021
Intelligent organisation
Showing up for work makes organisations more intelligent, because it let’s workers switch between focus and interaction in an unplanned way.
Discovery7 Mar 2021
Britain’s DARPA
As the government creates its Advanced Research and Invention Agency, it could learn from the exceptional history of the Royal Institution.
Discovery29 Jan 2021
Independent science
Supporting non-university research institutes with core funding will finally give aspiring researchers an alternative to a university job.
Discovery8 Dec 2020
The value of theory
From Newton to Maxwell to Penrose, Britain has always excelled at theoretical science—so why doesn't the government do more to support it?
Discovery14 Mar 2020
Back to basic science
Basic science—the kind done without consideration of its usefulness—leads to the biggest breakthroughs, which is why we need to protect it.
Discovery30 Jan 2020
Taking back research
In today’s Science|Business, the London Institute welcomes the prospect of a UK DARPA and calls for shorter turn-around times for funding.
Discovery5 Nov 2019
Basic science after Brexit
EU funding favours applied research over basic science, but Brexit is a chance to redress the bias and protect curiosity-driven research.
Discovery4 Apr 2019
A new kind of science
More independent research centres would provide an alternative to the university model of research, where teaching is bolted to science.