The Santa Fe Institute has announced a $50 million gift from investor Bill Miller in support of efforts to advance the science of complex systems.

SFI works to advance the field of complexity science, which seeks the organizing patterns at the heart of systems with a multitude of adaptive parts — from economies to ecosystems. The largest single donation in the history of the institute will be used to grow a critical mass of researchers to advance a fundamental theory of complex systems and supercharge individual research themes such as complexity economics, the interface of complexity science and machine learning, mathematical and philosophical foundations of complexity science, foundations of natural and artificial intelligence, the theory of sustainable urban and large-scale social systems, and the theory of information processing systems like cells and brains, which are an iconic example of "emergence" in complex systems.

"My long affiliation with SFI has been among the most rewarding of my life, both personally and professionally," said Miller. "SFI scientists have been and remain at the forefront of the most exciting and important scientific problems and challenges we face. I am delighted to be able to contribute to the critically important work SFI is engaged in."

"This gift comes at a moment when the world needs radically new ideas and quantitative frameworks to engage with the growing connectivity and complexity of life and the accelerating pace of change in both technology and society," said SFI president David Krakauer. "Bill's gift supports the search for new foundational ideas bearing on our understanding of complex reality, which includes consideration of the planetary future, our increasingly hybrid nature with machines, and potential existential issues around climate, our democracy, and rationality."

(Photo credit: @B3_MillerValue)