This was the main question discussed at the Jubilee Symposium celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study.

The Jubilee Symposium of the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS) was more than just a celebration of the achievements of the past 40 years; more importantly, it embodied the essence of an Institute for Advanced Study: bringing together talented individuals with diverse scholarly backgrounds and experiences for open discussions about the future of Institutes for Advanced Study (IAS). Attendees included principals from IASs worldwide, representatives from universities and funding agencies, current and former fellows, and many friends of SCAS.

An IAS is typically described as a place to think, write, reflect, and discuss with other scholars. It provides a space to ask difficult questions that often lack clear or straightforward answers, and where immediate societal applications cannot be promised. The path to finding answers may be unclear, and results uncertain. Abraham Flexner, the founding director of the first IAS at Princeton, famously called this “The usefulness of useless knowledge.” This captures the essence of basic research, which often underpins groundbreaking discoveries, as exemplified by Nobel Prizes.

While an IAS is a sanctuary for academics to pursue challenging questions for a year or a semester, it is neither an ivory tower, nor a monastery. Beyond interdisciplinary conversations and seminars with fellows from a broad range of disciplines, IASs are embedded within an academic ecosystem. Relations to universities and departments are crucial. Fellows usually return to their home institutions after their stay, bringing valuable experience with them. Many projects initiated at an IAS continue beyond their initial phase, sometimes forming the foundation for new research networks and centers of excellence at universities. In essence, IASs often serve as breeding grounds for new research ideas that influence the broader academic landscape.

One such example is programs for early-career researchers, such as the Pro Futura Scientia Fellowship at SCAS. This program allows fellows to develop their research over several years, with the added benefit of securing a tenure-track position at their home institutions upon successful completion. Initiatives like this provide young scholars the freedom to explore their ideas without the fear of jeopardizing their careers during the transition from early to mid-career stages. This contrasts sharply with the challenges faced by many young scholars who must contend with short-term positions, limited funding, and teaching responsibilities.

Intergenerational exchange is another valuable aspect of IASs. Mentorship opportunities naturally arise during a stay and can extend influence into the academic landscape, fostering the development of both junior and senior scholars.

A common reflection among fellows is their appreciation for the freedom and time to think, the contacts and lifelong friendships formed, and the opportunity to take a break from their usual duties. Some researchers become fellows at multiple IASs around the world, gaining varied experiences across different countries and contexts.

An intricate balancing act for an IAS is scale. Whilst an IAS will want to offer opportunities for many and to ensure a critical mass of fellows, many IASs remain relatively limited in the number of fellows they can host. Since welcoming its first Fellows in the autumn of 1986, SCAS has grown to host over 60 scholars each academic year – including resident and non-resident Fellows, short-term visitors, and research groups. At any given point in time, some 20-25 fellows are in residence. During its 40-year history, the Collegium has hosted over 600 Fellows from more than 300 universities, reflecting its global academic reach. The current size seems to represent an optimal balance—larger groups could hinder interdisciplinary and intellectual exchange and may require a bigger organization. The implementation at SCAS and other IASs of short-term stays, normally lasting between 2 weeks and 2 months, brings fresh perspectives and energy to the cohort in residence. They are often easier to arrange, often fitting better into the fellows’ schedules—with teaching commitments, family circumstances, or other responsibilities. In the early days, many fellows were men who could simply bring their families along, but life has changed significantly since then.

Short-term stays also help overcome practical issues around visas. Recent years have seen increased border restrictions and migration controls, also for academics and their families. IASs can serve as safe spaces for researchers from countries where certain topics are controversial or even forbidden to engage with, thus protecting academic freedom. In autocratic regimes, IASs might be the sole venue for truly independent research.

In our increasingly turbulent and polarized world, where the very values of universities are under threat, IASs serve as vital forums for academic diplomacy and dialogue. Addressing complex questions from multiple perspectives is their core strength. Hopefully, IASs worldwide can continue to be spaces for reflection, collaboration, and the pursuit of knowledge for the greater good of both academia and society.

Written by Natalie von der Lehr

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