Description
Want to have a positive impact on the world and its future?
Join a community of Bristol students exploring how to do good effectively.
What We Do
Build Genuine Community
We start with what matters most: actual friendships. Our game nights, pub trips, outdoor adventures, and casual dinners create the foundation for meaningful conversations about impact. Because the best advice comes from people who actually care about you as a person.
Explore Big Questions Together
How can I use my career for real impact? What problems are most important to work on? How do I know if I'm actually making a difference? How do I navigate uncertainty about my future?
Support Your Ambitious Goals
Whether you're applying for fellowships, making career decisions, starting research projects, or building something new – we provide practical support, accountability, and connections.
Our Specialised Projects
AI Safety Hub (BAISC)
Led by Ani, this group focuses on AI safety research, discussions, and connections to the broader AI safety community. Perfect if you're interested in ensuring advanced AI systems remain beneficial and aligned with human values. Learn more from BAISC's Website and Instagram!
Project-Based EA Fellowship
Led by Chris, this hands-on programme lets you learn EA concepts whilst working on real projects that matter. Instead of just reading about impact, you'll practise creating it.
Career Exploration & 1-on-1 Support
Led by Sam, we offer personal guidance tailored to your interests, skills, and circumstances. We help you navigate the often overwhelming world of impactful careers with honest, pressure-free conversations.
Our Approach
We explore EA ideas critically, not blindly
We explore ideas from effective altruism - an approach asking "How can we help others as much as possible?" This has led to insights like: some ways of helping are 100x more effective than others, career choices matter enormously for impact, and we should consider problems based on their scale, neglectedness, and tractability.
Many EAs focus on global health, animal welfare, existential risks, or AI safety - but we don't expect everyone to agree on priorities. The important thing is thinking carefully about impact, whatever cause you care about.
We question assumptions and think independently. We take what's useful and leave what isn't. We prioritise friendship and community over productivity, have fun whilst tackling serious topics, and support whatever path makes sense for you.
We don't pressurise you into specific careers or cause areas, expect you to agree with everything, use jargon to make you feel excluded, or treat people as means to an end.
We believe the EA community is strongest when it's built on genuine care for each other as whole humans, not just as potential "talent" for important causes.
Learn more about EA at effectivealtruism.org.
Who This Is For
You might be a good fit if you care about making a difference in the world, enjoy thinking through complex problems, want to meet thoughtful and caring people, are looking for genuine community at university, or are curious about big questions and different perspectives.
You don't need to know anything about effective altruism beforehand, have your career figured out, study any particular subject, commit to anything upfront, or agree with all EA ideas or conclusions.
How to Get Involved
- Come to a social event - No background knowledge needed, just show up and meet people! Check our Instagram @ea_bristol for upcoming events.
- See if you like the community - Stay if you do, no pressure if you don't. We want people who actually want to be here.
- Explore what interests you - Join specialised programmes, grab coffee with organisers, or just keep coming to socials.
- Book a casual 1-on-1 chat - These are completely no-pressure conversations where you can ask questions, get advice, or just get to know an organiser better. Book one here.
Stay Connected
Mailing List: Sign up here - our main way of sharing updates
Instagram: @ea_bristol - events, updates, and behind-the-scenes
Email: hello@eabristol.org - for questions or just to say hi
Book a Chat: 30-minute casual conversations, no prep needed
First-timers always welcome! Come as you are, think for yourself, and help us build a community that actually cares about both impact and each other.
Terms and conditions
Click here to view terms and conditions
Membership Fee Inclusions
Prior to signing up to a Club or Society speak to the Committee to find out what your membership includes and if there are any further expenses throughout the year.
Service Standards
All Club or Society members can expect to receive:
- The opportunity to attend regular meetings, events, activities, trips and socials as arranged.
- The opportunity to stand for a committee position or vote in their elections (Bristol students only).
- For Sports Club – to attend regular training sessions and have the opportunity to be selected for the teams.
Code of Conduct
When joining a club or society you are agreeing to abide by the constitution, general rules, regulations and policies of University of Bristol Students’ Union and also the Club or Society Code of Conduct which sets out the level of behaviour & discipline expected of all Club & Society members.
Refund Policy
Any customer who pays for a membership subscription to a Bristol SU Society, Sports Club, Student Media and initiatives has a 14 day cooling off period from the time and date of purchase during which they have the right to cancel the subscription and receive a full refund. If you do decide to cancel within the 14 days, Bristol SU will refund your payment within a further 30 days of the cancellation. To request a refund please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk
Data sharing (Sports Club members only)
Please be aware that Bristol SU may share data relating to the members of its sports clubs with the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health (a department of the University). This information may be used for the purposes of communicating direct with these members and/or to cross-reference against SEH's Sports Pass membership records.
As part of Bristol SU's membership of British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Bristol SU may have to share data on to its sports clubs members so BUCS can, from time to time, communicate with these members.
Data sharing (Societies members only)
If you're joining one of the societies listed below please be aware that your name and email address will be shared with Bristol Hub for the purpose of keeping you up to date with their activities through their email “The Week”:
AIESEC Bristol, AMICUS Bristol, Anti-Slavery Society, Bristol Feminists, Bristol Friends of MSF, Bristol Marrow, Bristol Social Enterprise Society, Bristol Student Action for Refugees, Bristol University Amnesty International, Conservation Group, Bristol University Oxfam Group, Bristol University Sustainability Team, Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad, Engineers Without Borders, Howard League for Penal Reform Student Society, International Affairs Society, Medsin Bristol, Model United Nations, and Vegetarian and Vegan Society.
For more information on Bristol Hub visit: http://www.bristolhub.org.
If you do not want your details shared with the Hub please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk.
These terms shall be governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. Nothing in these terms shall exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.
