About the Institute

Overview

The Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics is an endowed research center that supports the community of theoretical physicists at Caltech as they uncover the fundamental laws and organizing principles of nature. The Institute supports the prestigious Burke postdoctoral fellowships, brings distinguished visiting scholars to Caltech, and hosts workshops to catalyze new ideas and collaborations.

Theoretical physics—the cornerstone of basic science—is a core contribution by Caltech to the science community. Our quest for transformational discoveries was aptly described by Nobel laureate, alumnus and faculty member of Caltech, William Fowler:

"What we're doing is mainly a cultural and intellectual contribution to the sum total of human knowledge, and that's why we do it. If there happen to turn out to be practical applications, that's fine and dandy. But we think it's important that the human race understands where sunlight comes from."

By connecting researchers from around the world at Caltech, the Burke Institute provides a hub for the exchange of ideas and fosters cross-continent and cross-discipline collaborations. It is our mission to advance humanity's quest to expand our understanding of natural phenomena at all scales—from subatomic, atomic, and molecular scales to the scales of celestial objects and the universe itself.