Overview
As part of its mission, the National Institute has awarded Gold Honor Medals every year since 1913 to extraordinary individuals who have rendered distinguished service to humanity. Learn more here.
The National Institute of Social Sciences is a Congressionally chartered not-for-profit association of public-spirited citizens. Our members include social scientists, educators, business professionals, philanthropists, academics, and the intellectually curious who believe the social sciences offer broad and valuable insights into issues of urgent and lasting concern.
We encourage the study of the social sciences via direct and indirect support of social science research and by sponsoring public discussion of pressing social challenges such as the effects of technology, artificial intelligence, climate change, political polarization, income distribution, demographics, and the future of humanity.
The U.S. Congress has charged the National Institute with celebrating the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals who have rendered distinguished service to humanity, in order to hold them up as role models who can inspire the next generation of citizens to contribute in kind.
In pursuit of these objectives, the National Institute:
Sponsors speeches, discussions, and events that offer a broad range of balanced, non-partisan debate and discussion to its members and the general public
Celebrates the accomplishments of distinguished Americans and world leaders who have contributed at the highest level to the welfare and improvement of society with our Gold Honor Medal
Provides financial support to emerging scholars in academia who are doing graduate research in the social sciences
The National Institute is supported by active, dues-paying members across the United States.
We invite you to join us!