The Simons Foundation granted $2.5 million to UC Santa Barbara’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics to support the work of visiting scientists.

Hundreds of theoretical physicists visit the Kavli Institute to meet with other experts and partake in conferences every year. The Simons Distinguished Visiting Scientist program will work by providing finances to the researchers’ home universities and institutions to supplement their sabbatical leaves.

The mission of the Simons Foundation, based in New York City, is to advance research in the basic sciences and mathematics. According to a news release, the foundation sponsors a range of programs that aim to promote a deeper, more fundamental understanding of the world.

David Gross, director of the Kavli Institute, said in the release that he appreciates the grant. “We are enormously grateful to the Simons Foundation for their generous award that will enable us to support extended leaves of distinguished scientists at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics,” he said.

Previously, the foundation has granted money to UC Santa Barbara’s physics department to recruit postdoctoral researchers.

The foundation also supports the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics at Stony Brook University, and the Kavli Institute is beginning a visitor exchange program with that school.