For most people who've seen Oppenheimer, the 2023 biographical thriller that took home seven Oscars last month, it was the first time we truly contemplated the global risk that nuclear weapons present. But governments and international institutions have been working to reduce the risk of nuclear war and promote international cooperation for decades. Indeed, it is considered by some to be among the most urgent existential risks currently faced by humanity.
This event will be a structured discussion led by Dr. Pablo Rosado, physicist and principal data scientist at Our World In Data. Pablo will take us through the history and physics of bombs, their destructive potential and how many of them are currently possessed by different world powers. Finally, we'll also look at some of the ways in which members of the effective altruism community are trying to mitigate this risk, and what you yourself can do to help.
If this is sounding interesting to you (and you're willing to do a bit of homework!), then please join us for an enlightening discussion about one of the most significant and contentious issues of modern history.
Suggested resources:
For beginners:
- https://www.nti.org/atomic-pulse/nti-seminar-philosopher-toby-ord-existential-risk-and-future-humanity/
- https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24093819/oppenheimer-oscar-winner-nuclear-war-christopher-nolan-los-alamos-manhattan-project-academy-awards
- https://futureoflife.org/cause-area/nuclear/
More in-depth: