The Atalaya Institute is a new, politically and ideologically independent501(c)3non-profit organization based in Santa Fe, NM. It emerged from regular meetings of a group of local residents with diverse backgrounds, brought together by a common concern with policy challenges, and a shared belief that the world needs fresh, intelligent approaches to solving complex problems. Our work hinges on the hypothesis that scientific and analytical thinking can lead to better public policy. Our core idea is to build bridges between the world of scholarship and the world of action.