• Collectively, the world spends more on ice cream than on what it does to prevent extinction caused by technologies. (source)
• The UN Biological Weapons Convention has a smaller budget than the average McDonalds. (source)
• This year nearly 100 billion dollars will be spent on AI system development, but there are only 300 full time professionals dedicated to making sure AI is safe. (source) (source)

Existing and emerging technology pose real existential threats to humanity and our future as a whole. Given the gravity of these issues, there are drastically too few people working on them, and there is an immediate need for talented students to work to preserve our future, students like you.

Recognizing this need, Good Futures will run its first Futures Fellowship. The program is designed to kick start the careers of students working to preserve our future, through guided research, publishing opportunities, and access to professional conferences and retreats on these topics.

What we offer:

• Stimulating work on a project which actually means something
• Research experience
• A final research project which can be linked to on a resume or LinkedIn
• Publishing assistance
• Up to $1000 in cash prizes ​​​​​​
• Connection to a professional network for a variety of relevant fields

Program Details

Commitment: 3-4 hours per week February 21st - April 30th

The program will consist of two parts:

- 3 weeks of small group discussion on specific existential risks, how to reduce them, and why we should care. 

- 6 weeks of guided collaborative research. After choosing your topic, your team will meet up weekly to call with your mentor and cowork on the project. 

Key Dates
2/9: Informational Intro Event + Pizza
2/14: Application Deadline
3/20: Project Selection Day
4/30: Project Presentations

 If you have any questions please contact: [email protected]

Prize Details

• We can offer a final prize pool worth $75 dollars per person who completes the program. 
• The Prize Pool will be split amongst the team with the best research prject, according to the criteria below.

Award Criteria

Effective Altruism UW-Madison Proposal Review Board Guidelines

• Five members: 
  • Made up of EA leadership 
  • Reviewers may not judge a proposal from someone they have a personal relationship with (outside of EA Club activities or engagement) 
  • Review board members will analyze each proposal with their own volition prior to discussing with other members, and will then meet to discuss their judgements for as long as is necessary at a round-table approval/denial session. 
• Projects will be judged along the following dimensions
  • Presentation: Is the research well presented, easy to read, and writing clear?
  • Quality: How effectively does the research build upon or more succinctly summarize existing research? 
  • Depth: How deeply is your research question addressed? Do you address counter arguments, meaningful variations of your research question, or propose further research?

Statement of impartiality (this can be noted at the end of our submission form or application guidelines document): 

“Effective Altruism at University of Wisconsin-Madison strives to create an environment where diverse thought and experience are welcome. We pride ourselves on the impartiality and integrity of our selection processes, and have an unwavering commitment to the elimination of any conflicts of interest. Any and all proposals will receive a comprehensive and fair review in which the merit of each is considered according to the governing principles of our Review Board”