Announcing the 2026 Simons Foundation Presidential Lecture Series
The Simons Foundation invites mathematicians, scientists and science-interested members of the New York City area to the fourth year of its free weekly Presidential Lecture series.
During each lecture, a leading researcher will give a high-level presentation on boundary-pushing work from one of four subject areas: physics; mathematics and computer science; biology; and neuroscience and autism science. Lectures in each subject area focus on a different theme each year.
The lectures are curated by Simons Foundation President David Spergel and senior foundation scientists. Each series offers a distinct lens on discovery, while collectively reflecting the breadth and vitality of contemporary science and mathematics.
All lectures are free and held in person at the Simons Foundation headquarters in New York City’s Flatiron District.
For the latest news on the Simons Foundation Presidential Lectures, sign up for our email newsletter or check out the schedule of upcoming events. Videos of past lectures are available online on our website and YouTube channel.
Learn more about this year’s lecture themes below.
Physics: Black Holes
Through observational breakthroughs and theoretical advances, this series will explore black holes across scale — from stellar remnants to the supermassive giants at the center of galaxies. Topics will include high-resolution imaging, gravitational wave signals, the black hole information paradox and analogs of black holes in fluids on Earth. These lectures will illuminate how black holes offer a window into fundamental physics and provide a lens for understanding the universe’s most extreme environments.
Biology: Folding the Future: The Structural Biology Revolution
In this series, scientists will explore the rapid advances transforming how we visualize and engineer the molecular machinery of life. From breakthroughs in protein structure prediction to innovations in integrative structural biology, speakers will examine how these computational and experimental tools are reshaping drug discovery, synthetic biology, and our broader understanding of cellular function.
Mathematics and Computer Science: Randomness
Beyond being a source of uncertainty, randomness can also be a powerful tool for discovery. Topics will include random walks and surfaces, randomized algorithms, harmonic and Fourier analysis, and the geometry of complex systems. These lectures will also highlight surprising applications — from shuffling cards to fair voting — and advances in analysis and number theory, illustrating how randomness drives both fundamental insights and practical outcomes.
Neuroscience and Autism Science: Brain and Body: Communication and Connection
This series will explore how the brain and body influence each other’s functions through continuous information exchange. Talks will emphasize interoceptive and visceral sensory pathways as well as the molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms that mediate these bidirectional interactions. From gut mucosa and adipose tissue to bone and immune pathways, speakers will provide insights into how the brain-body communication supports adaptive function and contributes to health and disease.
