The SkAI Institute Mission
The mission of the NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI Institute) is to unleash the discovery potential of revolutionary sky surveys and solve fundamental and emerging multiscale problems at the forefront of astrophysics and foundational AI. This mission is being achieved through the following values:
- Innovation: Leveraging and advancing AI capabilities to harness and advance astronomy data, simulations, and experiments.
- Collaboration: Fostering interdisciplinary teams to support collaboration across the SkAI Network and foster emerging leaders in research, teaching, and art.
- Broadening participation: Broadening participation in various fields represented in the Institute through education and mentoring programs.
- Sustainability: Aims to contribute to the long-term impact on astronomy, AI, and other communities by cultivating open-source community software, datasets, and educational training materials and, ultimately, by fostering emerging talent for the future workforce.
Researchers Use South Pole Telescope to Detect Energetic Stellar Flares Near the Center of the Milky Way
The universe is vast, but astronomers don’t have to look too far to find something genuinely new. Researchers at the Center for AstroPhysical Surveys (CAPS) used the South Pole Telescope to probe one of the most complex regions of the sky, the crowded inner Milky Way, and uncovered powerful, short-lived bursts of millimeter-wavelength light from two known accreting white dwarf systems. Read More
Satellite Early Education for Discovery (SEED) Program
Applications are being accepted for this paid summer research opportunity!
For more information, click here!
News
AAS Names 23 New Fellows for 2026
Note: Claude-André Faucher-Giguère is a SkAI Senior Personnel and Core member Original URL:...
Northwestern-Argonne Collaboration Named Finalist for Prestigious Gordon Bell Prize
Note: Claude-André Faucher-Giguère, Salman Habib, and Katrin Heitmann are SkAI Senior Personnel...
TDAbench 2026 Workshop: March 9–12, 2026
The TDAbench 2026 workshop is a collaborative workshop focused on developing a benchmark dataset for machine-learning classification of astronomical transients. The early-registration and abstract-submission deadlines are January 31, 2026, and the regular registration deadline is February 23, 2026.
Mission and Vision
Learn about the SkAI Institute’s mission and its vision regarding the nexus of astronomy and AI.
Upcoming Events
All events take place at the SkAI Hub in the historic John Hancock building (unless otherwise indicated). There are a number of different types of events people may participate in (e.g., weekly seminars, colloquia, and journal club events).
Get Involved
There are a number of ways to get involved at the SkAI Institute. Learn more about how you may get involved.
Visit
our
Youtube
channel
Learn More About the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes
The NSF AI Institutes Virtual Organization is a nexus for the 29 national AI institutes.
Lead Institutions of the SkAI Institute
SkAI's Funding Partners
Funding Partners
The SkAI Institute is one of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and Simons Foundation.
SkAI Institute
875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60611
skai-institute@u.northwestern.edu
(Get to the SkAI Hub via the 172 E. Chestnut St. entrance)
Connect with us
