The social sciences help us understand how the world actually works. How people think, learn, organize, and make change. From economics and psychology to sociology and political science, each field offers a different lens on human behavior.

Two of our 2025 Gold Medal Honorees, Claudia Goldin and Christopher Eisgruber, in conversation, sharing insights and expertise in pursuit of our mission to celebrate, promote, and protect knowledge.

Knowledge is more than information. It’s the foundation of progress, justice, and human dignity.

Social Science Fun Fact: Sociology helped invent the idea of “teenagers.” The concept of adolescence as a distinct life stage emerged from social research in the 20th century.

Gold Medal honoree Alison Gopnik shares a moment in conversation with fellow 2025 honorees.

“He advocates a model which embodies fairness, integrity and rigorous pursuit of the truth, without yielding to internal or external pressure or the fashions of the day." @socialsciencesinst.bsky.social honored President Eisgruber with the 2025 Gold Honor Medal, an award that dates back to 1913.

Don't miss our 2008 Gold Medal Honoree, Ken Jackson, discussing LaGuardia on CBS! www.cbsnews.com/news/how-fio...

Honoring Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber with our gold medal. Eisgruber has championed access for low-income and first-generation students, defended the value of liberal arts and research, and emphasized free speech, inclusivity, and service.

Honoring cognitive science pioneer Alison Gopnik with our Gold Medal. Alison is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and a leading expert on how children learn and think. A founder of the field of theory of mind, her research has shaped modern understanding of cognitive development and learning.

Honoring Nobel Prize–winning economist Claudia Goldin as she receives her Gold Medal. A Harvard professor and pioneering scholar of labor and gender economics, Goldin’s work has transformed our understanding of inequality and women’s participation in the workforce.

Earlier this week, President Eisgruber received the Gold Honor Medal from @socialsciencesinst.bsky.social, an honor that recognizes “extraordinary individuals who have made the highest contribution to the improvement of society.”

Take a look at the full photo gallery from our Gold Medal Gala, and stay tuned for more moments from an unforgettable night. www.newyorksocialdiary.com/national-ins...

A peek into last night’s incredible gala. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate our honorees. Stay tuned as we share more behind-the-scenes footage!

We hope to see you at our Gold Medal Gala next week! We'll be honoring Christopher Eisgruber of @princeton.edu, @alisongopnik.bsky.social, and Claudia Goldin. www.socialsciencesinstitute.org/news/2025/8/...

Our 111th Gold Medal Gala is next week! The annual Gold Medal Gala, honoring extraordinary individuals who have made the highest contribution to the improvement of society, has been a National Institute tradition since 1913. Reserve your space here: www.socialsciencesinstitute.org/news/2025/8/...

Reflecting on last year's gala as we get ready for our 111th on 12/9. We hope to see you as we honor Claudia Goldin, Alison Gopnik, and Christopher Eisgruber of @princeton.edu.

We're a few weeks out from our 111th Gold Medal Gala. Reserve your tickets here: www.socialsciencesinstitute.org/news/2025/8/...

Don't miss our 2024 Gold Medal Honoree Ken Burns discussing his latest documentary on Today! www.today.com/video/ken-bu...

Don't miss our 111th Annual Gold Medal Gala, honoring Christopher Eisgruber of @princeton.edu, Claudia Goldin, and Alison Gopnik — three extraordinary leaders shaping our world for the better. 📅 Tuesday, December 9, 2025 📍 The Metropolitan Club, New York City

The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Christopher Eisgruber, President of Princeton University, as one of the 2025 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity.

The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Alison Gopnik, developmental psychologist, cognitive scientist, and philosopher of mind at UC Berkeley, as one of the 2025 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity.

The National Institute of Social Sciences is delighted to announce Claudia Goldin, Nobel Prize-winning labor economist at Harvard University, as one of the 2025 Honorees for its Gold Honor Medal for distinguished service to society and humanity.

Our 111th Annual Gold Medal Gala will take place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. We hope to see you there! Get your tickets here: www.socialsciencesinstitute.org/news/2025/8/...

Ahead of his upcoming documentary on the American Revolution, our 2024 Gold Medal honoree Ken Burns speaks about what the founding fathers would think of our current political moment. www.tiktok.com/@theatlantic...

Our Gold Medal has been awarded every year since our 1913 gala, which honored Archer M. Huntington, Samuel L. Parrish, and William Howard Taft. Join us for the 111th gala on 12/9/25.

AI is coming for Hollywood, and actors are at the center of the storm. From digital doubles to fully synthetic performers, the industry is on the edge of a massive shift. Let’s break down what this means for actors.

Our 2020 Gold Medal Honoree, Darren Walker, has a new book out! In The Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy, and the Values We Share, Walker argues that we can narrow our widening divides by rediscovering our common aspirations and common good. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Our 2024 Gold Medal Honoree, David Remnick, discusses his career in a new interview with Print Magazine. www.printmag.com/podcasts/202...

Save the date! Our 111th Annual Gold Medal Gala will take place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming NISS Event ⭐️ KEEPING IT REAL: AI and the Changing Entertainment Landscape, A Conversation with Industry Professionals. Learn about our organization and hear from entertainment industry professionals working in this new and challenging era of artificial intelligence.

The AI future is too scary even for James Cameron. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/au...

AI is transforming entertainment—but not always in ways that benefit creators or audiences. Here’s how it’s shaking up the industry (and why we should be cautious)

Congratulations to Erin Gaede ‪‪@eringaede.bsky.social on receiving a 2025 Dissertation Grant from the National Institute of Social Sciences (NISS)! @socialsciencesinst.bsky.social ‬

Our 2022 Gold Medal Honoree, Neil deGrasse Tyson, is in the news sharing his thoughts on plans for a moon-based nuclear reactor. www.cbsnews.com/video/neil-d...

AI is transforming the social sciences—and not just by speeding up research. It’s changing how we understand people, culture, and society.

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Food is never just food. It’s culture, community, economics, labor, identity—and power. The social sciences help us understand how and why we eat what we eat, who has access to food (and who doesn’t), how food systems impact the environment, and how global forces shape local plates.

Climate change is not just a scientific issue — it's also deeply social. Who contributes most to it? Who suffers the most from it? And who gets to decide what we do about it? These are social science questions.

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Did you know that the social sciences impact your life every day? The social sciences are all around us, shaping the way we live, work, and interact.

Ken Burns, our 2024 Gold Medal Honoree, is raising his voice for public media. In a time of potential cuts, he's reminding us why public broadcasting matters. www.npr.org/2025/07/18/n...

🧵 Thinking about a career in the social sciences? Here's a quick guide to the many paths you can take — and why these careers matter more than ever.

The social sciences are all around us, especially in summer. From how cities design parks and public spaces, to how tourism shapes local economies, to the psychology behind why we crave vacations, social science helps explain the choices we make and the communities we build.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform our world, one thing is clear: technology alone isn’t enough. To build ethical, inclusive, and human-centered AI, we need the insights of the social sciences.

Social sciences explore how people think, behave, and interact — as individuals, groups, and entire societies. They help us make sense of the human experience.

You're tapping into the social sciences every day without realizing it. When we make purchasing decisions, we’re leveraging insights from psychology and consumer behavior.

Whether it’s understanding economic inequality, shaping public policy, improving education, or researching human behavior—social scientists are essential to building more informed, just, and resilient communities. Careers in social sciences aren’t limited to academia. You can work in:

In today’s polarized political climate, studying the social sciences is more important than ever. These fields help us understand the complexities of human behavior, social structures, and institutions that shape our society.

Professor Anthea Butler, a respected voice in religious studies and member of the National Institute of Social Sciences Advisory Council, offered expert insight at the papal conclave and shared her perspective following the election of the new pope.

Understanding the world starts with understanding people. Social sciences shed light on big issues—like inequality, mental health, crime, and conflict—so we can create real solutions.