Thank you for your interest in the Intro to S-Risk Fellowship. This 6-week online program is designed to introduce participants to the core ideas of reducing S-Risks—risks of astronomical suffering—and to build a stronger community of people working on effective suffering reduction.
Applications for the Feb–Mar 2026 round are now closed. We may run future rounds depending on how this program fits into our broader priorities. If we do, we’ll announce them here and in our newsletter.
Program Overview
Duration: 6 weeks (early February to late March)
Format: weekly facilitated, structured, topic-based discussion sessions based on readings in small groups
Cost: Free of charge
Availability: Limited spots to ensure quality discussion and learning
Weekly Time Commitment
Expect to spend approximately 3–4 hours per week:
- Discussion session: 1.5 hours (required)
- Readings and multimedia: 1–2 hours of articles, videos, and audio resources
- Expert Q&A sessions: 1 hour with key contributors to the field (attendance optional)
Who Should Apply
This program is ideal for individuals who:
- Are committed to reducing suffering effectively
- Have an interest in moral philosophy and ethics
- Are familiar with Effective Altruism concepts
- Understand key ideas like cause prioritization and cause neutrality
Note: For more information on cause neutrality, see this essay.
Curriculum Topics
Over six weeks, the fellowship covers:
Week 1: Introduction to S-Risks — What are they and why do they matter?
Week 2: The Case for Focusing on S-Risks — Arguments, counterarguments, and prioritization
Week 3: Potential Biases and Risk Factors — Cognitive and systemic factors that increase s-risk likelihood
Week 4: AI, Digital Minds, and Advanced Technologies — Worst-case AI safety and emerging technological risks
Week 5: Institutional Change and Better Politics — Improving decision-making at scale
Week 6: Careers, Long-Term Impact, and Capacity Building — Career paths, staying motivated, and mental health
What Comes Next
This fellowship’s curriculum is broader than the Center on Long-Term Risk’s existing S-Risk Fellowship. Graduates will be well-prepared to apply for CLR’s more advanced fellowship, contribute to s-risk research, or strengthen the s-risk-focused community in other ways. Part of CRS’s mission is to identify more concrete interventions to reduce s-risks.
How to Apply
If and when we decide to launch another iteration of this fellowship, we will publish the application form here and promote it through our newsletter.
FAQs
Here‘s the current, public version of the curriculum. We plan to update it based on participant feedback and new research outputs after each iteration of the fellowship.
S-risks (risks of astronomical suffering) are risks of future scenarios involving astronomical amounts of suffering—far beyond anything that has occurred so far in history (that we know of). Picture factory farming expanded to feed a population at cosmic scale; authoritarian systems locking in oppressive structures; misaligned AIs that trap countless beings in misery.
No expertise is required, but familiarity with Effective Altruism concepts will help you engage more fully with the material. If you’re new to EA, we recommend exploring introductory resources beforehand. The fellowship itself is designed as an introduction to s-risks specifically.
This Intro to S-Risks Fellowship is run by the Center for Reducing Suffering and aims to provide a broad overview of perspectives. The Center on Long-Term Risk (CLR) runs more targeted, research-focused fellowships. Our program can help to prepare participants who may want to apply to CLR’s fellowship afterward, though this is not required.
We offer multiple cohort times to accommodate participants across different time zones. Please indicate your availability in the application form and we will do our best to sort you into a group if we decide to move forward with your application.
We understand that occasional conflicts arise. If you need to miss a session, please inform your facilitator in advance and see whether another cohort matches your availability to switch for a week. Missing more than two sessions may affect your completion status.
Participants who complete all required components will receive a certificate of completion that can be referenced in future applications. Requirements include attending at least 5 out of 6 sessions and all readings listed as mandatory.
We limit cohort sizes to ensure meaningful discussion and learning. While we cannot accept everyone, we encourage all interested individuals who meet the suggested background to apply. We’re primarily looking for genuine interest in reducing suffering and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging ideas.
Working on s-risk does involve confronting difficult possibilities. That’s why our curriculum includes a session specifically on staying motivated and maintaining mental health while working in this area. We foster a supportive community environment and encourage participants to engage at a pace that feels sustainable for them.
Graduates join a growing community of people working to reduce suffering and s-risk. Depending on your interests, you may pursue further research, apply to CLR’s advanced fellowship, explore relevant career paths, or contribute to community-building efforts. We’ll discuss these options during the final week.
Sessions are facilitated by experienced members of the s-risk research community and the Center for Reducing Suffering team, including Ada Sevimli, David Veldran, and Alistair Stewart.
More questions? Feel free to email us