#52 – Michael Aird on how to do Impact-Driven Research

Hear This Idea

Michael Aird is a senior research manager at Rethink Priorities, where he co-leads the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Strategy team alongside Amanda El-Dakhakhni. Before that, he conducted nuclear risk research for Rethink Priorities and longtermist macrostrategy research for Convergence Analysis, the Center on Long-Term Risk, and the Future of Humanity Institute, which is where we know each other from. Before that, he was a teacher and a stand up comedian. We discuss:

• Whether you should stay in academia if you want to do impactful research
• How to start looking for roles at impact-driven research organisations
• What simple changes can improve how you write about your research
• The uses of 'reductionism' and quantitative thinking
• The concept of ‘reasoning transparency’
• Michael’s experience investigating nuclear security

Key links:

• Michael's posts on the EA Forum
• Interested in EA/longtermist research careers? Here are my top recommended resources
• Don’t think, just apply! (usually)
• List of EA funding opportunities
• Rethink Priorities
• Reasoning Transparency
• A central directory for open research questions

You can find more links, and read the full transcript, in this episode's write-up: hearthisidea.com/episodes/aird.

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