The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies was founded in 1940 for the purpose of doing research in advanced areas of Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics and Celtic Studies. While being publicly funded, it remains an independent institution. DIAS has made important contributions to astronomy projects from studying lunar rocks brought by the Apollo missions to building instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope. One of DIAS' most notable physicists is Nobel Prize winner Erwin Schrödinger who made radical contributions to quantum mechanics.