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About the Institute
When Krasnow died in 1989 he bequeathed a substantial portion of his extensive estate to two charities. One bequest was to the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges reflecting his long time commitment to excellence in education. The second bequest was to establish an institute whose purpose was for the general advancement of human knowledge for the betterment of mankind. From this second bequest trustees were appointed and in collaboration with George Mason University, The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study was created. The work of the Institute began with a major scientific conference, co-sponsored with The Santa Fe Institute and hosted at George Mason University. This conference on The Mind, the Brain, and Complex Adaptive Systems brought together an extraordinary group of scientists including two Nobel laureates and produced exciting new approaches to this frontier. These collaborative efforts set the Institute on the path of seeking to understand the human mind: how it came to be, how it relates to the electrochemical activities of networks of nerve cells in the brain, how it can be modeled on computers, and how it is a vital component of what we are. A second strand of inquiry also emerged: how can understanding the human mind be applied to help us in education, decision-making, and all those countless activities that define our individuality and our contribution to mankind? All of these areas of interest come together under the general heading of cognition, the essence of the Institute's mission, and the legacy of Shelley Krasnow's vision. |
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Shelley
Krasnow, a long time resident of Fairfax, Virginia, was trained as an
electrical engineer and lived life with a very broad outlook. A man of
many interests, he was committed to supporting basic biomedical research.
As a thinker and philanthropist, Shelley Krasnow's life-long quest for
knowledge gained him a reputation as a philosopher, humorist, and advocate
for fulfillment derived from engaging work.