# Learn about the core ideas of effective altruism

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![Intro program page splash image](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/1ggJRLlHkzlCcq0BQQfl0v/ba216a489caeb03ae5620e2cd8d87d98/intro-course.jpg)

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##### In this free, 8-week online course, you’ll meet like-minded people and explore ways to have more impact with your careers and donations

__New:__ This summer we’re piloting in-person cohorts in select cities across Germany and Austria.



# Learn about the core ideas of effective altruism

***

![Intro program page splash image](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/1ggJRLlHkzlCcq0BQQfl0v/ba216a489caeb03ae5620e2cd8d87d98/intro-course.jpg)

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##### In this free, 8-week online course, you’ll meet like-minded people and explore ways to have more impact with your careers and donations

__New:__ This summer we're running in-person courses in Germany and Austria.



![Intro program page splash image](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/1ggJRLlHkzlCcq0BQQfl0v/ba216a489caeb03ae5620e2cd8d87d98/intro-course.jpg)



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###### 8 weeks / 3.5h per week



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###### Online



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###### No fees



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###### Facilitator led



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###### Global community



# From ideas to action

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## Global network

3000+ learners across 50+ countries who care deeply about improving the lives of others.



## Ideas and tools

Learn new concepts, ideas, and frameworks to have further your impact.



## Structured guidance

Guidance from experienced facilitators to explore the ideas.



# How it works

###### Apply

## 20 min application

Tell us about yourself and why you’re applying.

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###### Every week

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## 2h prep

Before each discussion you’ll spend around two hours completing a set of readings, podcasts or videos.



## 1.5h discussion

Weekly discussions with a cohort of 4-8 participants and one facilitator. 



## Talk to 1400+ alumni

Access a Slack channel of people dedicated to helping others.



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###### Next steps

## Stay in touch and take action

Many participants stay in touch with their facilitator, or are supported in taking next steps by the courses team.

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::quote[“The introductory EA Program was my primary onboarding to EA. The In-Depth Program made me far more conversant with EA thinking, to the point of __securing a place on the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program.__"]
::quote-source[Martyn James, Founder at Clearer Solutions]{img='//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/3nmqMgveikVOfZ9p197q0r/793b5107cd473a1dcc48e8a99c9c0445/1_edited_edited.avif?h=250'}

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# What our alumni have been up to

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# Questions you’ll explore

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:icon{icon='arrowRight'} Who should we care about helping?

:icon{icon='arrowRight'} How much better are the best options to do good?

:icon{icon='arrowRight'} What can we do to prevent the next pandemic?

:icon{icon='arrowRight'} How does climate change compare to other risks?

:icon{icon='arrowRight'} How can you have impact with your career?

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# Curriculum



## The effectiveness mindset

We’ll explore why it's important to think carefully about how you spend your time and money to help others, and why a "scout mindset" is critical to finding the best opportunities.



## Differences in impact

Some efforts to help can be much more effective than others. We'll share a tool for estimating impact and look into one promising focus area: reducing global poverty.



## Radical empathy

Should we care about the suffering of non-human animals as well as humans? Alongside this question, we'll explain the ideas of expected value and impartial altruism.



## Our final century?

Humanity appears to face existential risks: the chance of a catastrophe that destroys our long-run potential. One such risk is from a future pandemic that is worse than COVID-19.



## What could the future hold? And why care?

What would the world look like if we took the interests of our grandkids' grandkids as seriously as our own? This week, we'll focus on longtermism, and look at a set of forecasting tools that might help us to predict the future.



## Smarter than us

Expert views and several different lines of argument suggest that transformative artificial intelligence may be developed this century. How might this change our future, and should we be worried?



## What do you think?

This is a chance to read and discuss critiques of the ideas introduced so far, to form your own view on these important and difficult topics.



## Putting it into practice

We’ll discuss ways to apply the principles of effective altruism to your own life, particularly through your career.



::quote[“I had been interested in EA for many years when I signed up to be a facilitator. Virtual Programs helped me become more deeply involved in the community, and led me to __pursuing a more impactful career sooner__.”]
::quote-source[Asher, Project Manager, Effective Ventures]{img='//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/48Fsoc62gm5uikHvOh8atE/86661dc8950e2cc0ef99b6cc6b76a26c/asher__1_.jpeg?h=250'}



# Our alumni work at

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# Guided learning experience

It’s difficult to know where to start when learning about effective altruism. Your facilitator will help you to explore the content, form your own views, and guide conversations between you and other participants.

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# FAQ

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##### Who is this course for?
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Our courses welcome participants from all backgrounds who want to think carefully about how to do the most good.
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##### What are the requirements to participate?
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- Availability: 2+ hours per week for readings, and 1.5 hours for discussions
- A reliable internet connection
- English language skills sufficient to constructively engage in group discussions
- Over 18 years of age

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##### How does the application process work?
:::
- Submit your application through our application form.
- We send out admissions decisions the week after the deadline for the program has closed.
- If accepted, you'll receive an email asking you to share your availability so that we can match you with a discussion group at a time that suits you.

::::

::::details
:::summary
##### How much should I know about effective altruism before applying?
:::
No prior knowledge of effective altruism is required, although we do expect participants to demonstrate a genuine interest in effective altruism when signing up for the course. 
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##### Why is the course free?
:::
Our donors cover the cost of this program because they see it as an opportunity for impact — many participants go on to have a greater impact than they would have otherwise.

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The Introductory EA Program

# Learn the core ideas of effective altruism



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# Other programs

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intro-course

CEA logo

The Centre for Effective Altruism

Ideal for those new to effective altruism or for those who want to explore the ideas in a structured way alongside others.

The Introductory EA Program

When you aim to do good, you face questions like: How should I compare different global problems, and how can I contribute to solving them?

The In-Depth EA Program helps you engage with complex questions like these to help you figure out how you can increase your impact. Each week, you'll complete a set of readings that focus primarily on helping you learn about global problems and strategies for solving them. You'll then have weekly 1.5-hour discussions with a cohort of 4-8 participants and one facilitator. This program is designed as a follow-up to our Introductory EA Program. [The full curriculum can be found here.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QsiRk7rwBNHxAdwVogu2zJaodsQM4B6GX1A3raJxEcw/edit?usp=sharing)

We think this course is a particularly good fit for people who:
- Already have a good understanding of [core ideas in effective altruism](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/cN9Zu7dowefAfmNnH/the-effective-altruism-handbook).
- Are excited by the topics covered in the curriculum.

Requirements
- Can commit at least 3 hours a week to readings and exercises.
- Can attend at least 7 out of the 8 weekly discussion sessions.
- Are 18 years of age or older.

Like our Introductory Program, discussions are held virtually, allowing participants from anywhere in the world to join. The program is offered at no cost.

If you’re still unfamiliar with the aforementioned core ideas, we recommend that you start with the [Introductory EA Program](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/virtual-programs/introductory-program/). The [EA Handbook](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/cN9Zu7dowefAfmNnH/the-effective-altruism-handbook) is also great if you want to learn at your own pace. 

Jellyfish Stock Photo

Ideal for graduates of the intro program or those with a similar level of experience, who are ready to take action and want to dive deeper into more complex EA ideas.

In-Depth EA Program

# Make your high-impact career pivot

##### Join a free 4-day online bootcamp to identify high-impact career paths that match your skills, apply to opportunities, and build a network to accelerate your career pivot.

::button[Subscribe for updates]{href='/ea-newsletter-archives' color='white' arrow=false}

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__Applications closed__

30 min application | Runs Sept 20-21 & 27-28 or Oct 6-9



https://images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/3yMjzSVnrKiVZGiPQcAJVo/c4112898c992396bf283564914e217cc/waves_1_.jpg



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###### No fees



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###### Online



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###### 6-8 hours per day



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###### 4 days, weekday and weekend options



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###### For accomplished professionals



# What you'll get



## Evaluate your options

We help you decide which types of roles to aim for, suggest high-impact opportunities aligned with your skills, and challenge blind spots in your thinking.



## Build your network for impact-focused roles

Meet other experienced professionals who are pivoting their careers to working on the world's most pressing problems in their next role.



## Feedback on CVs

Draft, get feedback, and iterate on CVs and application materials; we’ll support you in leveraging your skills to tackle pressing problems.



## Real progress — not just ideas

Find roles, projects, or paths where your expertise is most needed, then send applications, make pitches, or network with employers.



# For accomplished professionals

Most participants are mid-career with 5+ years' experience, but it's not required.



### You have a proven track-record

Have developed skills and achieved strong results. Our alumni include tech founders, consultants, and nonprofit leaders.



### You're impact-driven

You want to apply your abilities to solving pressing problems and are open-minded about the best ways to help others.



### You're action-oriented

You're ready to commit time and energy to taking meaningful steps, not just thinking about them.



# Choose your schedule

We offer two formats to fit your schedule.



#### Weekend Bootcamp

Two consecutive full weekends

__September 20–21 & September 27–28__

_Progress your high-impact career pivot without taking time off work_



#### Weekday Bootcamp

Four consecutive weekdays

__Monday to Thursday, October 6-9__

_Ideal if you can take a week off for focused, rapid progress_



_Both formats cover the same content - choose what works best for you. We may run additional program dates, depending on demand and staff capacity._



# What you'll do



## Scout high-impact paths

Shortlist cause areas and opportunities aligned with your skills



## Focus and prioritize

Choose top directions and specific roles to pursue.



## Take action

Fire off applications, send intro requests, or scope out a project



## Make it real

Address any blockers, set clear goals, and create accountability for ongoing progress



You'll work through targeted exercises, collaborate with other participants, and take concrete action on your career goals. You can see the independent activities content drafts [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tnt5drYUBZhm2sLcp42PZfOlm9OkxQ5cdIy0B8dFQcw/edit?tab=t.5se98wq0h4s8), though we may make further edits and improvements.



# Alumni of our previous programs work at

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(The bootcamp is new. These examples are from our [Introductory EA program](/courses/introductory-program) and other courses.)



# How it helps



::quote[“Being surrounded by others who consistently showed up and engaged meaningfully helped me stay accountable. The consistent pacing and back-to-back assignments created a rhythm that made feedback both timely and relevant. It’s short, intense, and gives you a focused burst of momentum. You’ll come away with a few practical tools to help clarify your thinking about your next steps and job search direction.”]
::quote-source[— Cibeles]



::quote[“The most valuable aspect of the Career Bootcamp was the accountability it provided. Having to carve out substantial, uninterrupted time blocks for deep thinking was exactly what I needed for improving my career transition strategy and application materials. The bootcamp's structured framework and carefully curated reading materials made these reflection processes incredibly productive and focused.”]
::quote-source[— Eva]



::quote[“Connecting with people with such diverse capabilities—many of whom generously offered their time to provide feedback on my communication style, application strategy, and overall job search—was incredibly valuable. Hearing about approaches and experiences I hadn't previously considered helped me feel less isolated. Most importantly, having the space to reflect on my values, strengths, and career interests allowed me to approach my search with much greater clarity and intention.”]
::quote-source[— Aisha]



::quote[“The career bootcamp provided excellent curated resources and the chance to learn from a diverse group of smart, ambitious people. The program shifted my thinking about high-impact careers to a more flexible view that makes meaningful work feel more achievable. I also learned that I don't need to have my next ten steps figured out to take the first one, which helped me set aside some of my perfectionism around career decisions.”]
::quote-source[— Raminta]



![selfie(1)](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/2HxZDSvrypHeKvl0PYJgzT/504255f052c73518a85bf27c5bcfd8ef/selfie_1_.png)



# Meet the team



![Jamie Harris](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/1WFsLeA4G6kfey9JxejOw8/04c0f2641ebbd8ee36253d2d6eb764e0/jamie_1_.jpg)

#### Jamie Harris

After graduating with a first-class degree in history from the University of Oxford, Jamie taught for several years, before realising that he could achieve more impact elsewhere. He [pivoted his career](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/c6mPrJpbnPm4LhwRi/my-impact-focused-career-you-can-create-your-own-roles), becoming a researcher at a think tank investigating long-term social and technological change. From there, he co-founded Animal Advocacy Careers and Leaf, two nonprofits working to help individuals make positive impacts over the course of their careers. He has also worked as a grantmaker at the EA Infrastructure Fund and Macroscopic Ventures.



![Cian Mullarkey](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/vuVvLqnP1bhFgmcvJ9IFj/98fe0d0e65a6ca178326fcf4146946e9/cian_1_.jpg)

#### Cian Mullarkey

Cian works on strategy and operations for the courses team at the Centre for Effective Altruism. Previously, he ran the Effective Altruism groups at Trinity College Dublin and New York University, where he graduated with a first class degree in  Mathematics and Economics. He also worked as the team lead for the Stanford Existential Risk Initiative Summer Fellowship.



We partner with impact-focused careers services to support you with your next steps after the bootcamp



![80k](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/6BryLnf3muaVgyP4L98Nl2/c03e6df47c67022854db538db45bec81/80k_1_.png)

[80,000 Hours](https://80000hours.org/)



![Probably Good](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/7cLJVEq76hEgSZaVPK0YzH/85d5a17c53f9ae13f6772aebca8ca9bf/PG.png)

[Probably Good](https://probablygood.org/)



![High Impact Professionals](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/2vlircMB63A773hg3lC0TL/42170f85a1b6eddc5e55af76330296d4/HIP.png)

[High Impact Professionals](https://www.highimpactprofessionals.org/)



![Animal Advocacy Careers](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/4nCDfgUueJ01uJcJxvFLy1/21c4c1ae34d2b8010ef40e43954b82c2/AAC.png)

[Animal Advocacy Careers](https://animaladvocacycareers.org/)



![Successif](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/3wZBB2AopmQmGN1jbcPAqX/8b3db0a8cbab716ecf6a7da371d6d3dc/Successif.png)

[Successif](https://www.successif.org/)



# FAQ

::::details
:::summary
##### What will the program involve day-to-day?
:::
The program is built around making progress every day through three core activities:
 1. __Independent activities:__ You'll work through exercises and resources designed to help you clarify, pursue, and land your next high-impact opportunity.
 2. __Meet people:__ Calls with the other participants and opportunities for discussion on our Slack.
 3. __Get feedback:__ Give and get feedback on your plans and drafts from peers and our team.
::::

::::details
:::summary
##### Why is the bootcamp free?
:::
Our donors cover the cost because they are keen to support talented people to work on the world’s most pressing problems.

We want to help you land opportunities that have unusually important and positive effects on others, following from the [principles of effective altruism](https://www.centreforeffectivealtruism.org/core-principles); our content and staff will be both opinionated and open-minded about how you can best achieve that, and we hope you will be too.
::::

::::details
:::summary
##### What do you mean by a high-impact career? What are some examples of successful pivots?
:::
We mean careers that make an unusually large, positive contribution; focusing on the world’s most pressing problems and the most promising interventions to tackle them, identified [through reason and evidence](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/articles/introduction-to-effective-altruism). Some of your career options probably [have 100x the impact of others](https://80000hours.org/articles/careers-differ-in-impact/), and we want to help you find those top, most impactful few.

You can read examples of experienced professionals’ transitions into high-impact careers from the Effective Altruism Forum’s [Career Conversations Week](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/career-conversations-week-2025):

 - [Martyn James](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/nBtKgo3TLhfZTyAcW/from-google-to-co-founding-a-global-health-charity-mid): From Google to co-founding a global health charity  
 - [Kathleen Perell](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/BkfeavAfHEWT7C9aD/corporate-law-to-cea-operations-mid-career-transitions-with): From corporate law to nonprofit operations  
 - [Patrick Gruban](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/xRfZMmfoCNq8DWcKB/from-rave-websites-to-ai-risk-30-years-of-career-lessons): From startups and consulting to EA community building  
 - [Cameron Holmes](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/wjcJEFosrjmeFMTPT/tech-to-ai-safety-mentorship-mid-career-transitions-with): From finance software to AI x-risk research management

You can find more examples in the book [*Moral Ambition*](https://www.moralambition.org/book) and on the [80,000 Hours podcast](https://80000hours.org/podcast/).
::::

::::details
:::summary
##### Do I need to know about effective altruism?
:::
You need to be interested in making a positive impact through your career, and open-minded to unconventional methods for how best to achieve that, but you don’t need to be familiar with [effective altruism](/).

We may ask you to read, watch, or listen to some materials in the runup to the program so that you can benefit fully from it.

If you’d find it more useful to carefully explore effective altruism and think through the best opportunities for positive impact, we recommend our [introductory](/courses/introductory-program) or [in-depth](/courses/in-depth-program) EA programs instead. For a cohort-based career planning program with a longer timeframe, we also recommend High Impact Professionals’ 6-week [Impact Accelerator Program](https://www.highimpactprofessionals.org/impact-accelerator-program).
::::

::::details
:::summary
##### What are the requirements to participate?
:::
This is an immersive experience requiring 5-8 hours per day. You will need to ensure you can clear your schedule to maximize your progress on your high-impact career pivot. This time estimate includes all the required activities – the independent, interactive, and iterative elements, not just the virtual calls (which will only last 1-2 hours per day).

You also need a reliable internet connection, English language skills sufficient to constructively engage in group discussions, and to be over 18 years of age. Entry may also be competitive; see “Who it’s for” for what we’ll be looking for.
::::

::::details
:::summary
##### When are the interactive calls? Will it work for my timezone?
:::
We expect to run two calls per day; one at 8am GMT and one at 4pm GMT. This should work for all timezones, as long as you genuinely take time off to clear your schedule; it will be morning for the Americas, evening for East Asia or Oceania, and the areas in between will have a choice.
::::

::::details
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##### Is this for me if I’m still unsure about changing careers?
:::
Yes — you’ll gain clarity on whether a pivot makes sense, and what kind of change is actually possible. We’ve found that people who hadn’t yet started actively seeking out new opportunities were among those who benefited most from participating in our programs.

But we expect participants to take meaningful steps to explore their options in the program.
::::

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##### Will I get a certificate?
:::
Yes, but more importantly, you’ll leave the program with useful outputs, like an improved CV that better demonstrates how your skills and experience can be leveraged for impact and translated into a new context.
::::

::::details
:::summary
##### Are there other dates available?
:::
We’re planning to run a weekend bootcamp on September 20–21 & September 27–28 and a weekday bootcamp on Monday to Thursday, October 6–9, but are hoping to also run an earlier program in late August or early September; so it’s better to get your application in as soon as possible. We may also run additional dates in October. We ask on the application form about other dates you are available, in case we have demand and staff capacity to run further cohorts. We can’t make any promises here though. And we’re not yet sure if it will run again afterwards; if you’re interested, best to apply now.
::::



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4-day online bootcamp

# Make your high-impact career pivot

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::button[Subscribe for updates]{href='/ea-newsletter-archives' arrow=false}



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# Other programs

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selfie(1)

A free 4-day online bootcamp to identify high-impact career paths that match your skills, apply to opportunities, and build a network to accelerate your career pivot.

Bootcamp Social Preview

Make your high-impact career pivot

Learn the foundational ideas of effective altruism in 5- to 10-minute interactive lessons.

By the end, you should be able to think more critically about solving the world's most important problems, and have made progress working out how you could make a large and lasting difference in the world.

## What you’ll learn
![non-trivial you'll learn](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/7ontNg7uIrAuZQcJNT9Rpb/39e7132cffb7e02f9f6a234068aa052c/you-ll_learn__2_.png)

## For you if…
- You want to learn the foundations of effective altruism: a philosophy and community focused on doing as much good as you can.
- You haven’t already completed an introduction to effective altruism, such as the [Introductory EA Program](/virtual-programs/introductory-program).
- You want to learn in a self-paced, interactive environment with 5- to 10-minute lessons.

## About the course creator
![non-trivial peter](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/3jPvXgMUFvWZDBnD2Yt4uh/92ad50f789edd06f3bd3e5a36c64b92b/Peter.jpg)

Before founding Non-trivial, Peter McIntyre co-founded a nonprofit that raises >$4 million per year for effective global health charities, ran operations at one of the most successful crypto startups, and created an educational website that has been read by over half a million people.

Peter spent most of the last 5 years at 80,000 Hours, where he advised hundreds of graduates from top universities on how to find a fulfilling, impactful career.

But he started out in medical school. After he discovered the ideas in this course, he realised he could have a much more scalable impact outside of seeing patients – but by that point, he'd spent 7 years studying to be a doctor. He created this course so you don't have to make the same mistakes he did.


Non-trivial feature

Non-trivial is a non-profit teaching research-backed, actionable ideas to help you change the world.   Our online lessons are free, 5- to 10-minutes long, and highly interactive.  Non-trivial is fiscally sponsored by the Centre for Effective Altruism.

non-trivial-logo

Non-trivial

Learn the foundations of effective altruism, in 5- to 10- minute interactive lessons. A free, online course to learn research-backed, actionable ideas to help you make a big difference in the world.

How to (actually) change the world

Learn how you can make a difference at a global scale using reliable evidence, careful evaluation, and your unique skillset.

## About this course
Millions of children die each year due to easily preventable diseases. Hundreds of millions of people earn less than $2 a day. Billions of animals spend most of their life in pain. Many of us want to help but don’t know how. Can one person make a difference that’s not just a drop in the bucket?

This interdisciplinary course will provide you with a collection of practical tools from economics, public health, behavioral science, ethics, exact sciences, and more to help you achieve a positive and significant impact. From the small decisions we make every day, through the initiatives we choose to support, to our most significant life choices, such as what career to pursue, relying on existing evidence and well established tools in decision making can help you drive a change you believe in.

In this course, the first of two parts of the Making a Difference program, you will learn some of the most foundational ideas and tools for achieving a positive impact. In parallel, each lesson will introduce you to a new cause area with plenty of concrete and actionable opportunities for making a difference.

This course focuses on the foundations of cost-effectiveness, measurement, and evaluation, key questions around who to extend our compassion and concern towards, and the opportunities with the strongest evidence for impact.

## What you’ll learn

1. Analytical tools for evaluating what works and what doesn’t.
2. Frameworks for prioritizing different options for making a difference.
3. Techniques for critical thinking, decision-making, and research.
4. Concrete opportunities in promising cause areas you can contribute to.
5. Ethical and philosophical considerations when trying to improve the world.
6. Insights from philosophy, medicine, economics, psychology, statistics and more.

## About the course instructors

#### Sella Nevo
__Center director at the RAND Corporation and Lecturer at Tel Aviv University__

![sellanevo](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/5oz8uLAKCLTtVoqpuAooWQ/21d211285ae870672a1076c7f161c8de/Sella-Nevo-03-20190315-ANC.webp?w=300&h=300&fit=thumb)
Sella Nevo is the director of the RAND Corporation’s Meselson Center, dedicated to reducing risks from biological threats and emerging technologies. He is also a Venture Partner at the VC firm Firstime, which invests in climate startups, and is on the advisory board of ALLFED - the Alliance to Feed the Earth In Disasters.

He previously led the Karmel group at Google Research, which developed the Google Flood Forecasting Initiative, which provides flood forecasts and warnings globally, alongside several other humanitarian and environmental efforts. He also co-founded an impact-focused career advising nonprofit and taught Applied Ethics and Information Security at Tel Aviv University.

#### Dan Lahav
__Co-Founder & CEO at Pattern Labs and Lecturer at Tel Aviv University__

![dan](//images.ctfassets.net/ohf186sfn6di/4NHDh1GNDqPNzEYPs6P591/4d33084977bae4afb04ecea08b1c6839/dan.avif?w=300&h=300&fit=thumb)
Dan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pattern Labs - an organization dedicated to securing advanced technology. He also co-founded Impact Focused Education, which aims to develop an effective educational path for engaging in large-scale high-impact work.

Beyond that, Dan co-created and taught academic courses on topics such as Applied Ethics, received TAU's "Outstanding Lecturer Award" (thrice), co-authored an AI paper that was featured on the cover of Nature, won IBM’s ‘Outstanding Technical Achievement Award’, and was crowned Best Speaker of The World at the World Universities Debating Championship where he holds the all-time personal ranking record for a non-native English speaker.


evidence based course

Discover thousands of offerings — from free courses to full degrees — delivered by world-class partners like Harvard, Google, Amazon and more.

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Learn how you can make a difference at a global scale using reliable evidence, careful evaluation, and your unique skillset.

Making a Difference Ⅰ: Evidence-based Impact

This online course will walk you through some of the key ways to help animals in your career. It will give you insight into the animal advocacy community and the diverse and exciting career opportunities available in this space. 

You will be taking the course with a group of fellow aspiring animal advocates with whom you’ll be able to discuss your ideas — you’ll be able to connect through Slack and possibly participate in group calls organised by AAC. It’s a great chance to form good friendships or lasting professional connections. Past participants have told us that they’ve found it really motivating to complete the course alongside a cohort of like-minded people! We estimate that you’re about three times as likely to finish the course if you do so in this cohort with us than if you try to complete it on your own.

By the end of this course, you’ll have been introduced to plenty of highly promising career paths in animal welfare. The course will also support you in working out which jobs match your personal fit, and what the next steps are to reaching your animal welfare goals!

The online course will consist mostly of readings but also a few videos, and it is spread over nine weeks (or more, if you choose optional additions), with each online session taking an hour or two to complete. The sessions are:

- Why prioritise farmed animals?
- What does the farmed animal movement look like today?
- Which interventions should we focus on?
- How can you donate effectively?
- How can you have a career that helps animals effectively?
- How can you test your personal fit?
- Can you help animals?
- How much have you learned? (Test)
- What are your next steps? Planning your career

After the course, we will also provide some follow-up contact and support to help you implement your plans.


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We provide training and resources to help animal advocates maximise their impact for animals through their careers

Animal Advocacy Careers

This online course will walk you through the key points to helping animals through your career. You will learn about the animal advocacy community and the diverse and exciting career opportunities available.

Introduction to Animal Advocacy Online Course

Free online courses to explore ways to have more impact with your careers and donations.



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###### Online



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###### No fees



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###### Flexible hours

Courses on effective altruism

In collaboration with DC-based policy professionals, the Stanford Existential Risks Initiative ([SERI](https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/stanford-existential-risks-initiative/content/stanford-existential-risks-initiative)) is organizing a second virtual speaker series on US policy careers.

Please note that:

-   Participants need not attend all sessions.

-   To respect the privacy of speakers and to allow them to speak freely, the talks will not be recorded.

-   To accommodate speakers' schedules, most sessions will take place between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm US Eastern Time.

### Content and speakers

Speakers will include people who are currently working in or have worked at a wide range of organizations involved in policy-making; as directors, researchers, advisors, project managers, and other roles. We'll have a mix of early-, mid-, and senior-career speakers.

Sessions will highlight speakers' experiences in different kinds of US policy jobs. Most speakers have backgrounds in technology policy, especially biosecurity and AI policy, but the sessions are designed to be useful to people with a wide range of interests. 

Currently scheduled sessions are:

1.  Q&A session(s) with senior policy practitioners

2.  Working in the executive branch / White House

3.  Working in Congress

4.  Working in think tanks

5.  Graduate school for policy careers (master's, law school, PhD)

6.  Information session on policy fellowship and job opportunities

### Format

Sessions will last about an hour, following an interactive, moderated Q&A format, with half the time dedicated to audience questions to make sure we cover topics relevant to attendees. After each session, the organizers will follow up with attendees with related links and other relevant career resources.

### Additional information

-   There will be at least 5 sessions: about one per week, starting early July.

-   While we encourage attending the full series, signing up is not a hard commitment; no need to let organizers know if you are unable to attend a session.

-   Speakers are not necessarily affiliated with effective altruism or related organizations and ideas.


US Policy Image

ulty and The Stanford Existential Risks Initiative is a collaboration between Stanford facstudents dedicated to mitigating existential risks.

Stanford Existential Risk Initiative

This speaker series aims to help people learn about what various policy jobs in Washington, DC, are like (e.g., Congress, executive branch, think tanks), how they can get these jobs, and how to evaluate their fit as well as prepare for a US policy career. 

US Policy Careers Speaker Series

Introduction to ML Safety is an 8-week course that aims to introduce students with a deep learning background to empirical AI Safety research. The program is designed and taught by [Dan Hendrycks](http://danhendrycks.com/), a UC Berkeley ML PhD and director of the [Center for AI Safety](http://safe.ai/), and provides an introduction to robustness, alignment, monitoring, systemic safety, and conceptual foundations for existential risk.

Each week, participants will be assigned readings, lecture videos, and required homework and coding tasks. The materials are publicly available at course.mlsafety.org.

The course will be virtual by default, though in-person sections may be offered at some universities.

The prerequisites for the course are:

- Familiarity with deep learning (e.g. a college course). Watch this [deep learning review](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15yMNlkWAL5cuSHHZe1gy2sM8zcN8gHk9iBVzKKvS9zw/edit#slide=id.g126975c12ec_1_54) to check your level of knowledge.
- Linear algebra or introductory statistics (e.g., AP Statistics)
- Multivariate differential calculus

If you are not sure whether you meet these prerequisites, err on the side of applying. We will review applications on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about the program, visit: mlsafety.org/intro-to-ml-safety

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A non-profit aiming to reduce catastrophic and existential risks from artificial intelligence through technical research and advocacy of machine learning safety in the broader research community

Center for AI Safety

A course that aims to introduce students with a deep learning background to empirical AI Safety research

Intro to ML Safety (Spring 2023)

This virtual reading group will bring together law students, practising lawyers, and legal researchers to discuss emerging ideas and long-standing legal doctrines that inform how the law creates opportunities for — and constrains — potential policy interventions and activities across cause areas that are of interest to many people who aim to make a significant positive difference in the world. Core themes will include:
* improving institutional decision-making,
* international coordination to address problems requiring collective action,
* the promise and limitations of legal personhood,
regulating artificial intelligence and advanced biotechnology,
* legal advocacy for animals,
* career opportunities for lawyers and policymakers, and
* next steps for people interested in engaging more deeply with these ideas.

This program might be a good fit if you:
* Already have a good understanding of [core ideas in effective altruism](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/handbook).
* Are pursuing or considering a legal career and are interested in exploring ideas about how to use law to make a significant positive difference in the world.
* Can commit at least 2 hours per week to readings and exercises.
* Can attend at least 7 out of the 8 weekly discussion sessions.

Here are the topics we’ll cover each week:

**Week 1: International Coordination and Nuclear Policy -** It’s difficult to regulate technology in an increasingly globalised and competitive world. Passing the “right” law in one place may not matter if unrestricted development continues in other places. To avoid this outcome, and meet this century’s most pressing challenges, we’ll need to understand how governments and other organisations interact and reach consensus. During our first week, we’ll explore these kinds of coordination problems, using nuclear policy as a jumping off point for our discussion.

**Week 2: Improving Institutional Decision-Making -** To make a positive difference in the world, we have to make choices under uncertainty and other constraints. During our second week, we’ll explore questions like: How can institutions make such choices effectively? How can researchers, advocates, and policy professionals help some of the world’s leading decision-makers — whose actions affect millions of people — approach difficult problems more effectively?

**Week 3: New Holders of Legal Rights -** Extending our moral concern beyond traditional groups and categories has been a central theme in effective altruism, but it is an area in which the law has historically lagged far behind leading academic and philosophical consensus. During our third week, we’ll explore how the law might eventually come to recognize and respect the interests of groups such as people living in other countries, animals, future people, and artificially intelligent agents.

**Week 4: Regulating Artificial Intelligence -** Many researchers and policy professionals are concerned that advanced artificial intelligence could radically (and permanently) alter our world. Given that the coming decades might bring about systems capable of that kind of transformation, how can we establish effective rules and regulations around AI development and deployment? We’ll explore this question and others like it during our fourth week.

**Week 5: Regulating Advanced Biotechnology -** Like advanced AI, cutting-edge biotechnology appears to have the potential to cause serious harm, for example by enabling bad actors to create genetically engineered pathogens that cause a pandemic even more destructive than COVID-19. During our fifth week, we will explore the extent to which the law may be able to constrain potentially harmful uses of these technologies and discuss some of the tradeoffs involved.

**Week 6: Animal Law -** People in the effective altruism community have long valued the experiences of non-human animals, who vastly outnumber humans and suffer terribly in many contexts (from farms to wild environments). Various legal systems have sometimes taken animals’ interests into account, though rarely on a consistent or coherent basis. During our sixth week, we’ll explore the history and possible future trajectory of laws as they apply to animals.

**Week 7: Promising Career Opportunities for Lawyers -** During our second-to-last week together, we will take a step back to consider several potentially promising career opportunities for people with legal training who are aiming to make a significant positive difference in the world.  

**Week 8: Putting it into Practice -** During the final week’s discussion, we will reflect on the reading group and share our plans for putting the ideas we have discussed into practice.

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A survey of legal ideas and research topics related to key EA concepts and cause areas.

Legal Topics in Effective Altruism

In this 6 week program, you’ll learn about what it means to have a high-impact career, and try to figure out how you can use your career to help solve the world's most pressing problems, all the while being part of an engaging and inspiring group of fellow participants. More information on the notion page [here](https://www.notion.so/EA-VP-Career-Planning-Program-Pilot-Round-be41371e4c364aed946c77f0b8b4783a)!

Note: Minors are not permitted to join this program at this stage.

If you're seeking a rewarding and impactful career but feeling unsure about the next steps, our 6 week program is designed to help you make a plan!

Career Planning Program

ההרשמה פתוחה עד ה-13 באוקטובר. הירשמו עכשיו!

למי הכי מועיל לעזור?

איך אפשר לשפר את העולם בצורה משמעותית?

מהן צריך לעשות כדי לוודא שאנחנו באמת מצליחים לשנות?

כל אלו הן שאלות שכנראה נתמודד איתן במחשבה על עשיית טוב. 

תכנית המבוא לאלטרואיזם אפקטיבי מיועדת לאנשים שרוצים ללמוד לעשות טוב, בצורה הטובה ביותר. זוהי תכנית מקוונת, ללא עלות, שבה נלמד על העקרונות הבסיסיים שעומדים מאחורי "אלטרואיזם אפקטיבי". 

באמצעות קבוצות דיון קטנות, מנחים מנוסים, ומפגשים פרטיים ומותאמים אישית, הקורס יעזור לך לטפח רעיונות חדשניים ולחקור מה יכולים להיות השלבים הבאים שלך בדרך לעשיית טוב ברמה הגלובלית. 

#### התכנית נועדה לעזור לך:
- להגדיל את ההשפעה החברתית שלך
- לשפר את חייהם של אחרים
- להיחשף לרעיונות חדשים
- להכיר אנשים נוספים שרוצים ליצור שינוי

#### פרטים נוספים:
- משך התכנית: 8 שבועות, החל מתחילת נובמבר ועד סוף בדצמבר.
- זמנים: הקבוצה תיפגש אחת לשבוע לסשן דיונים באורך שעה וחצי. לכל דיון תתבקש להתכנון ע"י קריאה, האזנה וצפייה בחומרי הסילבוס - ההכנה לא תעלה על שעתיים. 
- שפה: הקורס יועבר בעברית או אנגלית, חומרי הקריאה הם באנגלית.
- מיקום: השתתפות אונליין מהחלל המועדף עליך.
- עלויות: __ההשתתפות היא ללא עלות__.

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ea Israel course

EA Israel

תוכנית זו מיועדת לישראלים המחפשים להכיר את הרעיונות שמאחורי אלטרואיזם אפקטיבי והכלים שהיא מציעה לעשייה חברתית משמעותית, ולמי שרוצה ולדון על ההשלכות האישיות והמעשיות של הרעיונות על בחירת קריירה בהקשר קבוצתי. התוכנית מבוססת על קריאה אישית ודיונים שבועיים בקבוצות קטנות, בעברית או באנגלית.


תכנית המבוא לאלטרואיזם אפקטיבי

This six-week program serves as an introduction to Effective Altruism. In this course, you’ll join a group of like-minded people to tackle important questions about how best to improve the world and consider what actions really make a difference. We’ll look at major global issues and explore some of the best ways to address them.

Guided by a facilitator, you'll gain access to curated materials and practical exercises to help you have a greater impact. You’ll also engage with fellow participants, learn from experienced moderators, and have personalised one-on-one sessions to help you explore potential next steps. 

The program aims to help participants:
- Improve the lives of others
- Increase your impact
- Learn new concepts, frameworks, and counterintuitive ideas to enhance your effectiveness in your career, donations, and other projects
- Connect with impact-driven individuals
- Meet like-minded people
- Discuss a curated curriculum with other people who care deeply about improving the lives of others in the most effective ways they can.

You’ll be grouped with 4-8 participants to have a weekly 1.5-hour discussion. There will be a two-week break between December 22 and January 5. Discussions will be held in German or English, as determined by each group. Written communication and reading materials will be in English. The discussions will take place online or, in some German cities, in person.

Before each discussion, you’ll spend approximately 2 hours completing a set of readings, podcasts, or videos (and occasionally a brief written exercise).
Participation in the program is free. 

Graduates who attend at least 5 sessions will receive a certificate.


Berlin

Effektiver Altruismus Deutschland is a non-profit organisation dedicated to building and promoting a nationwide network of people who think carefully about the world’s biggest problems and take effective action to solve them. 

EA Germany Logo

Effektiver Altruismus Deutschland

This program is similar to our standard introductory course, but is targeted towards individuals in Germany who are new to effective altruism. It is offered in either German or English by Effektiver Altruismus Deutschland.

EA Germany Intro Program 

Humanity stands at a precipice. 

Our species could survive for millions of generations — enough time to end disease, poverty, and injustice; to reach new heights of flourishing. But this vast future is at risk. With the advent of nuclear weapons, humanity entered a new age, gaining the power to destroy ourselves, without the wisdom to ensure we won’t. Since then, these dangers have only multiplied, from climate change to engineered pandemics and unaligned artificial intelligence. If we do not act fast to reach a place of safety, it may soon be too late. 

The Precipice explores the science behind the risks we face. It puts them in the context of the greater story of humanity to show how ending them is among the most pressing moral issues of our time. And it points the way forward, to the actions and strategies we can take today to safeguard humanity’s future.

This reading group will read The Precipice over 8 weeks and will require about 3 hours of time per week: 1.5 hours for reading and 1.5 hours for discussion. Participants will be placed into cohorts of 4-8 people (including a facilitator), which will meet weekly for structured discussions about each chapter.

Note: Minors are not permitted to join this program at this stage.

There are rounds of programming starting every three months so that you can participate whenever is best for your schedule.

Precipice_Earth_Image

In this reading group, you will read and engage in structured discussions of Toby Ord’s The Precipice, a book about existential risks and safeguarding the future of humanity.

The Precipice Reading Group

In this reading group, we will meet weekly to read and discuss the book Biosecurity Dilemmas, a book that has insights into the important trade-offs for biosecurity professionals, policy makers, researchers, and more. We will also work on and complete short biosecurity related projects, either individually or in small groups, with the guidance and support of facilitators. This program is designed for anyone working in or interested in working in the area of biosecurity or pandemic prevention.

Note: Minors are not permitted to join this program at this stage.


bookclub

If you are interested in biosecurity or public policy, or want to test your fit in these areas, join us to read and discuss the book Biosecurity Dilemmas and work on a project with your peers!