What is Effective Altruism?
Effective Altruism is about answering one simple question: how can we best improve the world? It is a research field which uses evidence and careful reasoning to work out how to help others as much as possible —and it is also a community of people taking these answers seriously, by focusing their efforts on the most promising solutions to the world's most pressing problems.
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What we do
We are currently focused on getting students to think about how they can use their careers to do good. This involves running discussion groups and connecting people to career/internship opportunities in the broader EA community. In the near future, we hope to provide research and project opportunities that students can be a part of here at Columbia.
Get InvolvedIntro programs
AI Safety Fellowship
Discuss whether AI could pose an existential threat in the future and dip your toes into the exciting new field of AI safety research. Technical knowledge of AI algorithms is helpful but not required.
Arete Fellowship
Engage in weekly discussions about what problems should be prioritized and how you can use your career and your time now to help. This is a good place to start for most people.
Effective Environmentalism Fellowship
Examine the risks of climate change and environmental damage and investigate what interventions can create systemic change. No prior EA knowledge is required.

Longtermism Fellowship
In the reading group, participants will engage in thought-provoking discussions about longtermism, the view that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time.
Alternative Proteins Fellowship
Anyone interested in combating the numerous problems exacerbated by animal agriculture: animal exploitation, climate change, emerging pandemics, world hunger, antibiotic resistance, and more should join this group!
AI Governance Fellowship
The AI Governance Fellowship investigates how we can shape the development and deployment of artificial intelligence to serve the common good and reduce existential risks from AI.