Effective Altruism · University of Bristol

Figure out where your effort actually matters.
Then go do it.

EA Bristol runs projects, mentorship, and a working community for students who want their career and their free time to count for something. No prerequisite in moral philosophy required.

See what we run Get involved

Hands-on programs

1:1

Mentor pairings

Open

To every year & subject

What we run

Four things, all hands-on.

Pick a problem, work it with people who care about getting it right, and find out fast whether this is for you. None of it is ordered by priority; start wherever you fit.

For new members

Intro Project Program

Test the ideas with your hands, not just your highlighter.

Pick a real problem, work it with a small team, and see if this is actually for you. A short, structured project for people new to EA who want to try the ideas out rather than read about them first.

One-to-one

Mentor Program

A straight answer from someone who's actually walked the path.

Paired one-to-one with someone further along in research, policy, or industry who can tell you what a path actually looks like. Built around regular check-ins, not a one-off coffee chat.

Drop-in

Coworking Sessions

A room full of people getting real work done. Bring yours.

A standing block of time and a room full of people doing focused work. Show up, put your headphones on, get more done than you would alone.

Every 2 weeks

Biweekly Socials

Same people, no agenda, good food.

No pitch, no deadline. Every other week the same people you'd be working alongside show up for food, a drink, and a conversation that isn't about your next due date.

Why we exist

Good intentions are the starting point. We care about the strategy and the execution it takes to actually move the needle. We'd rather test an idea than just discuss it.

Mentorship

Real people, further down the path.

Every mentor here has actually done the thing; research, policy, building. They give straight answers about what a path looks like, not a pep talk.

We're confirming our 2026 mentor line-up — these slots fill in below.

AI safety research

David Leech

Senior Lecturer · UoB

David is currently researching the role of religious leaders in ensuring AI goes well. David has previously done extensive research on the nature of religious experience.

Bristol Profile ↗

GRANTMAKING

Erin Robertson

AI Safety Grantmaker · Coefficient Giving

Erin currently funds new AI Safety Organisations. Before this, she ran LASR Labs, a technical AI Safety research program. Erin was previously EA Bristol President.

LinkedIn ↗

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Sam Smith

Program Director · Leaf

Sam runs Leaf, an EA summer program for High-Schoolers. Sam also is a Generator Resident in Berkeley, California, working to expand Non-Trivial. Sam was also previously EA Bristol President.

EA Forum↗

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Jian Xin Lim

Program Organiser · EA Cambridge

Jian Xin mentors and helps facilitate projects at EA Cambridge, the second largest EA Society in the country.

LinkedIn ↗

The committee

Who's running it.

Six students, all reachable. Drop us a message; we mean the "always up for a chat" part.

President

Chris

Second-year Maths student. Researched the state of the AI safety field, analysing a dataset of 600+ alumni; if you need contacts in AI safety, he's the guy. Outside of this, loves photography and exploring random places. Always up for a chat.

chrisclay.net ↗

Vice President

Alexandra

Psychology PhD student working at the intersection of psychology and AI. Serial founder: Synthetic Psychology Group, Fairy's Heart and the Sheffield Entrepreneurship society. Runs our mentorship program.

Secretary

Mia

Third-year Politics & IR student, deeply involved in politics. National Elections Officer for the Young Liberals, coordinating young candidates nationally with the main party. Passionate about ensuring AI goes well, and runs our Coworking Sessions. Outside of this, loves crocheting and reading.

Treasurer

Ed

Third-year Physics & Philosophy student. Non-Trivial Fellow and Facilitator, and our philosophy lead. Outside of this you'll find him playing trumpet; he led the Brass Band last year, and plays in Jazz Funk & Soul Society, Bristol Hornstars, Orchestra and a stack of classical ensembles.

Global Careers Secretary

Alex

Second-year Social Policy student. Founder of Noctem Consulting and excited about the environment. Co-leading the Intro Program.

AI Safety Lead

Anirdesh

Third-year Maths & Computer Science student. Doing funded alignment research on Bayesian updating in models with Aeden Ewart (ex-Anthropic fellow, ex-EA Bristol). Runs BAISC, the AI safety group at Bristol.

Next intro project intake — applications open September 2026

Worth an hour of your week?

Come to a social, sit in on a coworking session, or apply for the intro project. The lowest-effort way in is just to show up once.

Apply to the intro project Join the mailing list

Figure out where your effort actually matters.Then go do it.