France A. Córdova Honored with New Endowed Forum on Science Policy & Society
On August 12, 2025, AIP Foundation hosted an inspiring evening at La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The night featured a vibrant reception, a thought-provoking fireside chat, and a special heartfelt tribute to France A. Córdova, AIP Foundation’s inaugural Board chair whose term ended this August.
In recognition of Córdova’s extraordinary career and enduring impact on science and science policy, AIP Foundation announced the creation of the France A. Córdova Endowed Forum on Science Policy & Society. This new forum honors Córdova as she concludes her term as the inaugural Chair of the AIP Foundation Board. With a career spanning more than four decades, she has served as an astrophysicist, university president, NASA chief scientist, Director of the National Science Foundation, and now President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance. Her pioneering work across science, engineering, and education has shaped institutions and inspired generations, and AIP Foundation is honored to have benefited from Córdova’s leadership and guidance over the five years.
This new Science Policy & Society initiative, kicked off by a generous donation from internet co-founder Vint Cerf , will support an annual marquee public event dedicated to addressing critical issues at the intersection of science, policy, and society. It is our way of carrying forward Córdova’s lifelong commitment to inclusive excellence, public engagement, and the advancement of science.
The tribute was framed by a dynamic fireside chat that brought together Córdova, Thomas Mason, Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Jill Hruby, former U.S. Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security. The conversation, moderated by David Krakauer, President of the Santa Fe Institute, explored the challenges and opportunities of the physical sciences in shaping our collective future, ranging from talent pipeline to energy advancements. Through the France A. Córdova Endowed Forum on Science Policy & Society, Córdova’s impact will continue to guide and energize future generations of scientists, students, and policymakers, ensuring that science remains a force for inclusion, innovation, and public good.
