Accelerating discovery, advancing technology and expanding our knowledge – basic science lays the foundation for future breakthroughs.

Basic science is curiosity in action. It’s the pursuit of fundamental knowledge about how the world works, without the immediate goal of solving a specific problem. It’s not about chasing a cure today; it’s about understanding the scientific building blocks of knowledge so we’re ready for the breakthroughs of tomorrow. At the Allen Institute, basic science is the foundation of everything we do.

This video was produced in partnership with graduate students from the University of Washington’s Communication Leadership program: Sheifaly Saksen, Zhetong Li, and Hermy Pei.