Making a Difference Ⅱ

High Stakes

Sella Nevo and Dan Lahav

Climate Change, Nuclear War, Man-made Pandemics, The rise of AI – Humanity has never been more capable, and yet it has never been more at risk.

Climate Change, Nuclear War, Man-made Pandemics, The rise of AI – Humanity has never been more capable, and yet it has never been more at risk.

This course, which is the second part of the Making a Difference program, provides a collection of practical tools from economics, technology, climate science, the life sciences, and more to help you achieve a positive impact on the world. From the small decisions we make every day, through the initiatives we choose to support, to our most significant life choices, such as what career to pursue, relying on reliable sources and well-established tools in decision-making can help you drive a change you believe in.

We will learn some of the most important frameworks and tools to prioritize impactful opportunities – even in the most challenging circumstances, such as preparing for unprecedented risks or comparing completely different cause areas. Each lesson will also introduce you to a new cause area with plenty of concrete and actionable opportunities for making a difference, including some of humanity’s largest modern risks.

This course is a follow-up to Making a Difference Ⅰ: Evidence-based Impact, where we learned some foundational tools and ideas for assessing and driving impact and explored opportunities backed by strong evidence.

In this course, we pivot away from the evidence-rich environments of the previous course and explore what we can do about risks so great that we can’t wait until we have all the evidence.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Strategies for executing ambitious high-impact plans.
Frameworks for prioritizing different options for making a difference.
Techniques for critical thinking, decision-making, and research.

Strategies for directing your career to successfully help others at scale.
Concrete opportunities in promising cause areas you can contribute to.
Insights from economics, statistics, the natural sciences, technology, and more.

Strategies for executing ambitious high-impact plans.
Frameworks for prioritizing different options for making a difference.
Techniques for critical thinking, decision-making, and research.
Strategies for directing your career to successfully help others at scale.
Concrete opportunities in promising cause areas you can contribute to.
Insights from economics, statistics, the natural sciences, technology, and more.

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Making a Difference Ⅱ: High Stakes with these activities:

Review basic calculus

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Reviewing foundational calculus concepts can help you a better understand the building blocks of models used in climate science and economics.

Browse courses on Derivative

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Review notes from previous calculus courses
Use online resources to practice solving calculus problems
Take practice quizzes to assess your understanding

Review statistics and probability concepts

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Statistics and probability play a crucial role in climate modeling and data analysis, so refreshing these concepts will enhance your understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Statistics

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Review notes or textbooks on basic statistics and probability
Use online resources or practice problems to test your understanding

Read "The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace-Wells

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This book offers a comprehensive overview of the potential consequences of climate change, effectively supplementing the course materials and broadening your understanding.

View The Uninhabitable Earth (Adapted for Young... on Amazon

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Read one chapter per week
Take notes on key concepts and arguments
Discuss the book with classmates or friends

Four other activities

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Explore the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) website

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The IPCC is a leading international body for the assessment of climate change, and their website provides valuable resources and reports on the latest scientific findings.

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Visit the IPCC website and browse their reports
Follow the IPCC on social media for updates and event announcements

Attend a conference or webinar on climate change

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Conferences and webinars provide opportunities to connect with experts, learn about the latest research, and expand your network in the field of climate change.

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Research upcoming conferences or webinars
Register for the event and attend the sessions
Network with other attendees and exchange ideas

Write a blog post on a specific climate change issue

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Writing a blog post allows you to synthesize your understanding of a particular climate change issue and share your insights with others.

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Choose a specific climate change topic
Research the topic thoroughly
Write a draft of your blog post
Edit and proofread your post
Publish your post on a relevant platform

Volunteer with a local environmental organization

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Volunteering provides hands-on experience, allows you to apply your knowledge, and connects you with like-minded individuals passionate about environmental issues.

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