Sunstone Institute
Who We Are
The Sunstone Institute is a global data research institute. We conduct data-driven studies on humanity's greatest threats and find compelling ways to tell the stories.
The Sunstone Institute is a global data research institute. We conduct data-driven studies on humanity's greatest threats and find compelling ways to tell the stories.
Our mission is to show the world as it really is, and inspire action everywhere.
Sunstone Institute is a charter member
of the Stær Collective.
Our team of data scientists and journalists synthesise fragmented public data to surface hidden patterns and hold power to account. We aim to equip decision-makers across policy, media and civil society with clear, actionable insight to make informed decisions for the public good.
Our work is funded through philanthropy. Our team adheres to ethical codes to ensure our work is independent and rigorous.
Our name comes from the sunstone of Viking legend, a guiding crystal said to reveal the sun’s position even on the cloudiest days at high seas. The Sunstone Institute helps leaders and citizens around the world to navigate uncharted waters.
The work of the Sunstone Institute is anchored in confronting 30 threats to humanity, as outlined by its founder, Lawrence D. Howell.
The Sunstone team brings extensive experience in building and operating data-centric technologies for some of the world’s most demanding and data-intensive organisations. Our background spans complex data environments where reliability, security, scalability, and accountability are non-negotiable. We understand that for data to be useful, it must perform under real-world regulatory and strategic constraints.
Our AI-native platform is being designed from the ground up to support rigorous research, combining advanced engineering with responsible AI. We build durable research infrastructure, designed to support evidence-based insights, complex collaborations, reproducible and openly published results, and sustained impact over time.