I like the idea but then a potential counter-point would be we should just simple expand Oxford’s GPI/FHI. Both of these are within Oxford, which adds a lot of prestige/credibility etc.
-Smaller departments and programs at other schools, like Stanford Existential Risk Initiative and Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative.
-Encouraging people to start student groups at lots and lots of colleges.
Right now, the student group work might be the most cost-effective, but there are limits to how well that strategy can scale. Keeping the focus on existing hubs like Oxford and the Bay Area makes sense now, but as EA gets more ambitious and starts to exhaust the low-hanging movement-growth fruit, eventually the idea of just buying our way into a Harvard Department of Progress Studies might start to look like a pretty appealing idea.
I like the idea but then a potential counter-point would be we should just simple expand Oxford’s GPI/FHI. Both of these are within Oxford, which adds a lot of prestige/credibility etc.
EA is advancing on several fronts here:
-GPI & FHI at Oxford
-Smaller departments and programs at other schools, like Stanford Existential Risk Initiative and Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative.
-Encouraging people to start student groups at lots and lots of colleges.
Right now, the student group work might be the most cost-effective, but there are limits to how well that strategy can scale. Keeping the focus on existing hubs like Oxford and the Bay Area makes sense now, but as EA gets more ambitious and starts to exhaust the low-hanging movement-growth fruit, eventually the idea of just buying our way into a Harvard Department of Progress Studies might start to look like a pretty appealing idea.