For 500 years, telescopes have opened windows to the cosmos with increasing power and precision. Now, proposed telescopes promise answers to the mysteries of dark matter and the oldest galaxies. The US has historically led the way in telescope technology, but as the cost of innovation has grown and other nations have upped their investment, our position at the front of the race is in question. Carnegie Science’s John Mulchaey will discuss the landscape of ground-based and space telescope innovation, including global collaboration and investment, at this critical juncture of space exploration.