The OI's vision is to promote origins research that addresses fundamental, unresolved big questions in science, such as: "How did the universe begin?
The Origins Institute research is categorized into six interconnecting themes: space-time (particle physics), elements and matter (nuclear astrophysics), structure of the universe (astronomy), life (evolutionary biology, astrobiology), species (biodiversity), and consciousness (neuroscience).
Reflecting the trans-disciplinary nature of the research done at the OI, professional members within the institute hail from many fields, including anthropology, astrobiology, astrophysics, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, mathematics, neuroscience, and philosophy.
Well-known academics David Deamer, Martin Rees and Stuart Kauffman sit on the OI advisory council.
To that end, the OI hosts an annual season of public lectures and weekly colloquia that draw in top scientists from around the world.