What Is the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics?
The Program for Evolutionary Dynamics (PED) is a Harvard research center focusing on the mathematical study of evolutionary processes, including in cancer biology, microbiology, and economic systems. It was formally established in 2003 under Professor Martin Nowak.
Epstein’s Founding Role
Epstein provided the founding donation for the PEDreportedly over million in initial commitment. His donations were routed through the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation. The scale of the gift was sufficient to give Epstein:
- A formal office at a Harvard facility
- A visiting professor or visiting fellow title
- The ability to invite guests to use Harvard facilities
- Regular engagement with Harvard academics
Nowak’s Position
Martin Nowak, the PED’s director, is a respected evolutionary biologist and mathematician. He maintained the relationship with Epstein throughout the period of Epstein’s sex offender registration (20082019), though Nowak’s defenders say he did not realize the full extent of Epstein’s conduct.
Harvard’s Response After 2019
Harvard initially announced an internal review. In September 2019:
- Harvard’s investigation found .1 million in Epstein donations to the PED from 2003 to 2007
- President Lawrence Bacow announced Harvard would not return the research grants, citing their deployment in ongoing research
- Harvard returned a smaller amount of more recent direct personal gifts (approximately ,000)
The Broader Lesson
The PED case illustrates how institutional donor acquisition processes can be bypassed when a single academic champion (Nowak) advocates for a donor and the university focuses on the size of the gift rather than due diligence on the donor’s record.