A Blueprint for Big Questions
For more than a century, Carnegie Science has been built on a simple but powerful idea: give scientists the freedom to pursue the questions that matter most—and discovery will follow.
In a recent conversation, Carnegie Science President John Mulchaey joined Communications Director Natasha Metzler to reflect on what makes Carnegie unique, and why that founding principle remains just as vital today as it was 124 years ago.
“What’s special about Carnegie is that it gives scientists the freedom to pursue the questions they want, without boundaries or limitations,” Mulchaey said. “That freedom has led to some of the biggest discoveries in our history.”
That same freedom is now shaping Carnegie’s future. Mulchaey described his blueprint for tackling humanity’s most enduring questions—from how the universe began, to how planets form, to how life emerges and evolves.
Among the biggest questions guiding that work: Are we alone in the universe? And if life exists elsewhere, how would we recognize it?
Answering questions of that scale requires more than any single discipline. It demands collaboration across astronomy, Earth and planetary science, and biology—fields that have long coexisted under the Carnegie umbrella.
“From understanding the universe at its beginning, to the processes on Earth that allow life to exist, to the study of life itself—we cover all of those areas here,” Mulchaey said. “That puts us in a really strong position to lead what comes next.”
As Carnegie Science looks toward its next century, the institution remains grounded in its legacy while focused firmly on the future—continuing to build a culture where curiosity crosses boundaries and discovery thrives.
Watch the full interview to learn more about how Carnegie Science is shaping the next generation of discovery.
