
Programs

Events
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Zenith Grants
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Fulcrum Grants
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Competitions
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Structure
The Foundational Questions Institute, FQxI, is an international group of visionaries in physics, cosmology, and other scientific fields questioning the foundations of science, along with outreach specialists. FQxI seeks answers to foundational questions in these disciplines.
Our programs, along with QSpace, are the core of the foundation and work in concert to accomplish FQxI’s goals:
Through the Zenith Grant, the talks and presentations at our Events, as well as opportunities for collaboration when people meet at the Events or win Zenith grants, or through the active discussion and excitement around our competitions, FQxI is able to support, fund, and share news of scientific disciplines fundamental to a deep understanding of reality.
Our Zenith Grant programs, ten to date awarding $27M to 233 Principal Investigators and outreach specialists questioning the foundations of science, help to redress incrementalism in research by funding high-risk, high-reward research.
Our Events, especially the international conferences and the Fulcrum Grants, create opportunities for meaningful convenings and useful collaborations between researchers working on the foundations of science.
FQxI is hosting an open Membership call, the outreach and equity Fulcrum grants, and the equity lens on our current essay competitions, How Can Science be Difference, are very small steps towards making the pursuit of science more equitable.
And through QSpace–its engaging articles, blog posts, podcasts, videos, and so much other content curated by our editor extraordinaire, Zeeya Merali–FQxI is able to increase public understanding of known and future discoveries in the foundational sciences and the potential implications for our worldview.
Funding
FQxI’s programs are funded by philanthropic organizations and donations from individuals and corporate partners. This funding has enabled us to support work on a broad range of issues in foundational science all around the world. We are currently raising funds to host future rounds of the Zenith and Fulcrum Grants. Please contact us via email if you are interested in funding new grant programs.

QSpace Latest
Video: Wine, Quantum, a Life Worth Living
Is quantumness in the eye of the beholder?
Quantum Bayesianism, or QBism, is an interpretation of quantum mechanics in which probabilities in quantum theory are personal to the agent in quantum theory. Join QBism co-founder Chris Fuchs for cocktails and conversation with Adán Cabello, Marissa Giustina and Rüdiger Schack—discussing probability, chaos, quantum randomness and the meaning of life, whilst trying to convince them that QBism is the ultimate quantum mechanical interpretation.
Explore more:
- Read more in Mitch Waldrop’s article, “Painting a QBist Picture of Reality.”