Societies

What is Effective Altruism?

The world can be better and we can improve it. Effective Altruism is about combining compassion with reason to explore how we can benefit others by doing good.

By hosting speaker events, discussion groups and socials we hope that we can help you learn more about having the biggest impact you can! Join a great community of interesting, friendly and welcoming people united by an interest in helping others.

What do we do?

Fellowships and Reading Groups

• 📖 Intro Fellowship - Learn and discuss EA with a small group of like-minded students, and join a community of altruists connecting you to impactful internships, opportunities, grants, and guidance (Apply by 23 Jan)
• ✍️ Effective Thesis Accelerator - Fast-track your thesis, shape your career, and make an impact through creating a thesis proposal and a career plan (Apply by 22 Jan)
• 🤖 AI Safety Discussion Group - Dive into urgent problems in AI alignment, ethics, and governance alongside a passionate community of peers (Apply by 23 Jan)
• 🌱 Alt Protein Fellowship - Learn all about alt proteins and how they help us transition to a more effective, ethical and sustainable food system (Apply by 18 Jan)
• 📜 Effective Project Fellowship - Apply EA principles in a hands-on project to create tangible impact (Apply by 22 Jan)

Events

• Speaker talks - Learn from experts in their field, covering a variety of topics from AI to biosecurity to global development (more)
• Career workshops - Discover how to turn your passion for doing good into a fulfilling career that makes a difference (more)
• Coworking - A place to connect with other EAs, collaborate on projects, or just a quiet space to work independently. Held every Weds from 4-6pm in FAB3.28.

Collaborations

• AI Safety hackathon - Tackle the key issues of AI safety and discuss the risks and benefits of AI by taking part in a hackathon project (more)
• Warwick Alt Protein Project 🌱🥩 - Student-led community at Warwick, building a more ethical, equitable, and efficient food production system (more)

How can I get involved?

Ready to make a difference? Join our society for free and start exploring how you can have the biggest impact possible.

Follow us on Instagram @ea_warwick to find details about all of our events! Everything is also posted to our WhatsApp announcement channel.

See you at one of our events!

effectivealtruism.org | Find impactful volunteering and internship roles

How to have an impactful career | Charity donation recommendations

Exec 25/26

President:               Stefan Trnjakov
Vice President:      Jenny Hu
Welfare Officer:     Matthias Endres
Treasurer:               Nishchal Prabhakar
Secretaries:           Amy Lindsay
                                 Aashish Reddy

Our Society Constitution

1  Name
The name of the society shall be Warwick Students’ Union Effective Altruism Warwick

2  Aims and Objectives
2.1  The Society shall have written statement of aims and objectives providing a clear understanding of the society. This shall be subject to review annually by the Effective Altruism Warwick Executive Committee

2.2  The society aims and objectives shall be:
2.2.1  Do use evidence and reason to do the most good
2.2.2  Enable students to find impactful careers
2.2.3  Introduce students to Effective altruism
2.2.4  Support students with their goals
2.3  The Society, its Executives, its funds and all its activities shall be subject to the provisions of the By-Laws, Regulations and Policy of the University of Warwick Students’ Union.
2.4  The Society shall be subject to a disciplinary code as laid down and administered by the Students’ Union.
2.5  Any alterations to the Society Constitution must be ratified by the Societies Forum. A provisional copy must be sent to the Vice President for Societies for approval before the new constitution may take effect.
2.6  If the Society has issues arising not mentioned in a personalised Constitution, then this document will become the default. Any issues may be dealt with by contacting your Societies Coordinator. 

3  Memberships
3.1  Memberships of the Society shall be open to all full, associate and honorary members of the Students’ Union upon payment of the required Societies Federation subscription.
3.2  Memberships of the Society are to be renewed in the September of every academic year.
3.3  Only standard members of the society shall be entitled to vote in elections, provided they have joined the society and paid the appropriate subscription fee no less than three days before the election takes place.
3.4  The following shall not be entitled to hold the office of an Executive position in the society:
3.4.a An Associate or Honorary member of the Students’ Union or Societies Federation
3.4.b Any person who has received payment for the provision of services to the society (not including reimbursement of personal expenditure on behalf of the society)
3.5  The Society must have a minimum of 30 members by the sixth week of term one. If the minimum membership is not met, a meeting with the Society and their Societies Coordinator will be scheduled to discuss the future of the Society.

4  Executive Committee
4.1  The Society’s Executive Committee shall be made up of at least three Core Roles who shall be the President/Chair, the Welfare Officer and the Treasurer. 
4.2  The Executive Committee must also ensure that they include an officer responsible for each of Core Responsibilities. These responsibilities may be put under the remit of other committee members’ roles, unlike the Core Officers, and do not need to be separate officers. However, they must be specified in the Constitution. The Core Responsibilities are as follows:
4.2.a  Equality and Diversity
4.2.b  Safety
4.2.c  Secretary

4.3  The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the day to day running of the society and may decide upon any matter that has not yet been decided upon by the General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall further be responsible for:
4.3.a  Organising the activities of the Society in such a way as to include the greatest possible number of Society members
4.3.b  Managing the expenditure of the Society’s funds in a responsible fashion and in line with the aims, objectives and planned activities of the Society whilst adhering to the SU’s financial regulations
4.3.c  Formulating and submitting an annual bid for funds from Student Activities prior to any specified deadline which shall include a statement of activities and objectives for the coming year and detailed justification of the figures contained in the bid
4.3.d  Formulating and submitting any additional bids for funds from the SU Societies Forum or groups within the Students’ Union
4.3.e  Assisting any review of the Society’s activities and use of funds carried out by a standing committee or group of the Students’ Union that has granted funds to the Society
4.3.f  Upholding the Constitution of the Society and ensuring that its aims and objectives reflect the Society activities
4.3.g  Ensuring that all society activity abides by the By-laws, regulations and policy of Warwick SU.
4.3.h Executive Committee members must attend assigned training to ensure they are equipped to organise the Society.

4.4  Core officers
4.4.1 The Core Officer Duties shall include:
4.4.1.a To attend the Society’s Annual General Meeting
4.4.1.b To attend Societies Council and complete mandatory training sessions/courses

The core officers shall be:
4.4.2  President/Chair/Club Captain
4.4.2.a The President/Chair/Captain should organise and oversee the running of The Society
4.4.2.b The President/Chair/Captain should chair committee meetings
4.4.3  Treasurer
4.4.3.a The Treasurer should be responsible for the finances of the Society
4.4.3.b The Treasurer should maintain an up-to-date record of their group account in addition to the record kept by the SU finance office
4.4.3.c All funds should be held and processed through the groups Students’ Union bank account. No money should be held in personal bank accounts
4.4.3.d The Treasurer should submit grant funding applications 
4.4.4  Welfare Officer
4.4.4.a The Welfare Officer should be responsible for signposting Society members to the University’s and SU’s support services when a welfare issue arises
4.4.4.b The Welfare Officer should make it known among Society members that they can come to them for initial support, however, should expect that support will take the form of signposting and not advice

4.5 Additional Officers
4.5.1 Vice President
4.5.1.a The Vice President should assist the President in the daily management of the society, such as meetings and events, and its members
4.5.1.b The Vice President should replace the President if he is unable to attend a meeting
4.5.2 Biosecurity Officer
4.5.2.a Is the point of contact and provides resources for anyone interested in biosecurity
4.5.2.b Provides occasional updates on opportunities in the field
4.5.2.c Organises at least one event per term for those that are interested in biosecurity (speaker talk, social, collab, hackathon, summit, etc.)
4.5.3 AI Safety Officer
4.5.3.a Is the point of contact and provides resources for anyone interested in AI safety
4.5.3.b Provides occasional updates on opportunities in the field
4.5.3.c Organises at least one event per term for those that are interested in AI safety (speaker talk, social, collab, hackathon, summit, etc.)
4.5.4 Animal Welfare Officer
4.5.4.a Is the point of contact and provides resources for anyone interested in animal welfare
4.5.4.b Provides occasional updates on opportunities in the field
4.5.4.c Organises at least one event per term for those that are interested in animal welfare (speaker talk, social, collab, hackathon, summit, etc.)

5  Meetings
5.1  The Executive must meet at least three times per term to ensure the Society is operated to a high standard.
5.2  The Society Executive shall call at least one General Meeting per year for the purposes of discussing plans and activities for the coming year.  This must be held by Week 10, Term 2.  This GM may also be used to hold Society Officer elections. 
5.3  The Society Executive shall give at least seven days’ notice of any General Meeting to all members via Society email and such notice shall include details of any elections to be held
5.4  The Executive shall call further meetings either at its own initiative or at the request of 10% of the membership or the request of the Vice President for Societies. 

6  Elections
6.1  Elections shall be held online or at a quorate general meeting in line with By-Law 10 Appendix D
6.2  Votes will be counted using a First Past The Post/Single Transferable Vote electoral system.
6.3  Any amendments to the constitution must be made by the end of term 3.
6.4  The renewed Constitution, with up to date signatures, must be sent to the Societies Coordinator before the end of term 3