"Science, Leadership, and a World in Transition" with Caltech President, Dr. Thomas Rosenbaum

Description

In this fireside conversation, Dr. Thomas Rosenbaum, the ninth president of the California Institute of Technology, reflects on leading one of the world’s most influential scientific institutions through a period of profound technological and global change. Drawing on Caltech’s tradition of rigorous inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and outsized impact, he will discuss how science-driven institutions navigate uncertainty, foster innovation, and sustain public trust in an increasingly complex world.

Moderating the discussion is David Brancaccio, host and senior editor of American Public Media’s Marketplace Morning Report, the business program with the largest audience in any medium. 

Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 11:30 am–1:30 pm 

Lunch and valet parking is included in the price of your ticket.

*If you are interested in sponsoring this program, please contact our Director of Membership & Advancement, Victoire Auguste-Dormeuil (vdormeuil@lawac.org or (213) 328-3181)

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Thomas F. Rosenbaum

Thomas F. Rosenbaum is the ninth president of the California Institute of Technology and Professor of Physics. He is an expert on the quantum mechanical nature of materials, conducting 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 and 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.

Moderator Bio:

David Brancaccio

David Brancaccio is host and senior editor of American Public Media’s Marketplace Morning Report, the business program with the largest audience in any medium. His Economy 4.0 series on Marketplace focused on ways to make the economy better serve more people. He anchored the award-winning public television news program NOW on PBS until 2010. His reporting has focused on the future of the economy, regulation of financial markets, the role of technology in labor markets, human rights, the environment, and social enterprises.   David’s work has earned some of the highest honors in broadcast journalism, including the Peabody, the Columbia-duPont, the Emmy, and the Walter Cronkite awards.

His feature-length documentary film about economic alternatives entitled Fixing the Future was released in theaters nationwide in 2012 and is now available from Netflix, iTunes, and on-demand cable television.  He is author of a book about Americans applying their personal values to their money, entitled Squandering Aimlessly.  David has a BA from Wesleyan University and an MA in journalism from Stanford University. He is married to Mary Brancaccio, a poet and educator.  He grew up in Waterville, Maine and also attended schools in Madagascar, Ghana, and Italy. He enjoys public speaking, moderating, bicycling and photography.  

Event Recap:

The Los Angeles World Affairs Council hosted the event: Science, Leadership, and a World in Transition, featuring Dr. Thomas Rosenbaum, the ninth president of the California Institute of Technology on February 26, 2026. 

The conversation offered a compelling look at the state of science and its role in shaping society. Dr. Rosenbaum discussed the significant decline in federal research funding, the challenges facing institutions like Caltech and the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to drive breakthroughs in quantum science, biotechnology, and space exploration. He reflected on talent retention, the value of integrating the humanities into scientific education, the role of media in popularizing science, and the need for strong partnerships between universities, industry, and government. His insights underscored how scientific leadership can guide innovation, maintain public trust, and prepare the next generation to navigate an increasingly complex world.

We were also grateful to moderator David Brancaccio, host and senior editor of American Public Media’s Marketplace Morning Report, for steering an engaging and wide‑ranging discussion. And a special thank‑you to the many high school students who attended—your enthusiasm and questions added so much to the program.

Event Recording: Science, Leadership, and a World in Transition with Caltech President, Dr. Thomas Rosenbaum 

Event Photos: Science Leadership and a World in Transition - Los Angeles World Affairs Council