We work with in-house science writers, and closely with external ones, to place articles in publications such as Nature and Nautilus, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. These promote our views, celebrate our discoveries and shape the debate on how to do and fund science.
Opinions9 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.
Opinions5 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?
Opinions23 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.
Opinions13 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.
Opinions9 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.
Opinions10 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.
Opinions6 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.
Opinions1 Jul 2022
History repeats itself
The Royal Institution supported scientists fleeing 1930s authoritarianism. Now, thanks to our Arnold Fellowships, history repeats itself.
Opinions13 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.
Opinions21 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.
Opinions7 Jun 2021
The intelligent organisation
Showing up for work makes organisations more intelligent, because it let’s workers switch between focus and interaction in an unplanned way.
Opinions7 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.
Opinions23 Feb 2021
Move to the Ri
The London Institute has moved into the iconic Royal Institution, where it will expand its programme of curiosity-driven theoretical science.
Opinions29 Jan 2021
Independent science
Supporting non-university research institutes with core funding will finally give aspiring researchers an alternative to a university job.
Opinions8 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?
Opinions14 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.
Opinions5 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.
Opinions4 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.