Oxford Workshops on Global Priorities Research

GPI usually runs two Oxford Workshops on Global Priorities Research each year: a larger one in June and a smaller one in December. These workshops bring together academics from around the world to discuss topics related to global priorities.

Topics

The workshops usually focus on questions discussed in GPI's research agenda. More specifically, our primary research focus at present, and hence a major focus on these workshops, is the longtermism paradigm. "Longtermism" is the idea that - because of the potentially vast future of sentient life - which actions are best is mainly determined by effects on the very long-run future (rather than by more immediate considerations). We are interested in evaluating arguments for and against longtermism, and exploring its practical implications if true. However, we are also interested in a range of other issues in cause prioritisation (see Section 2 of the research agenda), and use the workshops to explore this broader set of questions as well. Those include, for instance, certain issues in decision theory, epistemology, game theory, and optimal timing and optimal stopping theory.

The focus of each workshop varies slightly; details, topics, and agendas of past workshops can be found below.

Attending and contributing to the workshops

Attendance at our workshops is mainly by invitation, but we welcome general expressions of interest and often invite applications to attend particular workshops.

Contributing to a workshop

If you are interested in giving a presentation at a future workshop, please fill out our expression of interest form, explaining what you might talk about and how it relates to global priorities research.

Attending a workshop

We sometimes run application rounds to attend workshops, with applications closing around eight weeks before the workshop (for in-person workshops). Details can be found on the individual workshop pages. Criteria for the selection of participants include:

  • A genuine interest in global priorities research
  • Fit of the applicant's background and interest in the topics of the specific workshop
  • Academic track record
  • Seniority: especially for smaller workshops, we give preference to more experienced researchers because the existing body of researchers in global priorities research is heavily skewed towards the junior end. We nevertheless welcome applications from interested undergraduate and graduate students
  • Balance of disciplinary backgrounds (especially, but not exclusively philosophy and economics)
  • Demographic balance and diversity (we particularly encourage applications from members of groups that are under-represented in economics and philosophy).

Workshops dates

Past workshops