The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is a research institute of the University of California, Santa Barbara. KITP is one of the most renowned institutes for theoretical physics in the world, and brings theorists in physics and related fields together to work on topics at the forefront of theoretical science. The National Science Foundation has been the principal supporter of the Institute since it was founded as the Institute for Theoretical Physics in 1979. In a 2007 article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, KITP was given the highest impact index in a comparison of nonbiomedical research organizations across the U.S.The Directors of the KITP since its beginning have been: Walter Kohn, 1979–1984 Robert Schrieffer, 1984–1989 James S. Langer, 1989–1995 James Hartle, 1995–1997 David Gross, 1997–2012 Lars Bildsten, 2012–present The Director and the permanent members of the KITP are also on the faculty of the UC Santa Barbara Physics Department. Former permanent members include Physics Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek.
