Founders’ Day 2026 | The Huntington and Caltech: Science and the Humanities, Pasadena and Beyond

Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum joins Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence in a discussion about the historic and current relationship between their respective institutions, the defining moments of his tenure, and how the sciences and humanities together can guide us through contemporary challenges.  

About Founders’ Day

Founders’ Day is observed annually at The Huntington in honor of Henry E. and Arabella Huntington’s roles in envisioning and establishing the institution. Each year, the program explores topics connected to The Huntington and the rich history of its location in the San Gabriel Valley. 

About the Featured Guest 

Thomas F. Rosenbaum is the ninth president of the California Institute of Technology and a professor of physics. He is an expert on the quantum mechanical nature of materials, having conducted research at Bell Laboratories, IBM Watson Research Center, and the University of Chicago, where he served as vice president for research and for Argonne National Laboratory, then provost, before moving to Caltech in 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics with honors from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University. He serves as the chair of the board of trustees of the Society for Science, as a board member of the Aspen Center for Physics, and on the American Academy of Arts & Sciences Los Angeles Program Committee.