#149 - Suicide Declines, Earthquake Monitors, and Amazing TED Talks!
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In the News
🥹 New data suggests that the global suicide rate has declined by 29% from 2000 to 2021, marking a massive public health triumph.
☢️ 2025 will likely mark the year that global solar energy production eclipses nuclear production
🦠 Our World In Data came out with a report about TB and how it declined in the UK and US. It’s important to remember that diseases like TB can be stopped, and can do it for developing countries as well.
🛰️ China launched a 12-satellite cluster of supercomputers.
❄️ And speaking of space, JWST just discovered water where we weren’t expecting to find it.
Opportunities
“Avandar is the all-in-one program management suite for the social sector. It was founded on the belief that the social sector deserves better data management software than what currently exists. Mission-driven organizations often struggle to run their operations using basic spreadsheets or must repurpose tools that weren't designed for their needs. From disease epidemics and natural disasters to local community support and beyond—nonprofits in this sector lack an affordable yet powerful software solution that truly understands their challenges. Avandar was built specifically for these organizations that Big Tech has overlooked, giving them a platform designed from the ground up with their needs in mind. Avandar was founded by Juan Pablo Sarmiento, a software engineer and public health professional with over a decade's experience building software for the social sector. Pablo has spoken at several Impact Labs events and witnessed firsthand the talent and passion of the Impact Labs community. As a two-person early-stage social startup, we're entirely bootstrapped and currently preparing for our platform's alpha launch. We're opening a position for a 12-week Design Fellowship or Product Management Fellowship. If you are someone excited to level the playing field for the social sector, send your resume to careers@avandarlabs.com.”
The Future of Life Institute is a nonprofit that works to reduce global catastrophic and existential risks facing humanity, particularly existential risk from advanced artificial intelligence. They are launching a new initiative called the Digital Media Accelerator, which “supports digital content from creators raising awareness and understanding about ongoing AI developments and issues.” Apply if you’re interested in creating content that highlights AI’s impending role in society, whether good or bad.
Goodfire is a San Francisco-based public benefit corporation that aims to build critical infrastructure to empower developers to understand, edit, and debug AI models at scale, ensuring the creation of safer and more reliable systems. They’re currently looking for a research scientist, a research engineer, and a research fellow to join their team.
Instrumentl is a tech company that helps non-profits find the funding and resources they need to thrive. They build a grant aggregator that can match non-profits with relevant philanthropists, and their tools have helped thousands of non-profits raise tens of millions of dollars. They’re currently looking to hire a full stack engineer, among other roles.
Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropy dedicated to fostering the advancement of science and technology. Its focus areas include AI and Advanced Computing, Astrophysics and Space, Biosciences, Climate, and Science Systems programs. They’re looking for an associate for their AI2050 initiative. Apply here.
What We’re Watching
Dr. Angus Hervey’s most recent TED talk is inspirational - go watch it.
And if you haven’t yet seen Tristan Harris’ TED talk, go watch that too.
Oncology is changing rapidly and the era of personalized cancer treatment is upon us.
Internet fiber cables criss-crossing the globe could give us new insight into earthquakes and help us better monitor and prepare for tectonic shifts.
Quotes We Love
"We were born for community. Without it, we are simply shadows moving through the world."
– Archbishop Desmond Tutu
That’s all for now! See you in your inbox in another two weeks! ❤️