Frequently asked

What makes Thinking About Thinking different from other communities?

Thinking About Thinking is intentionally interdisciplinary and focused on foundational questions around intelligence, cognition and complex systems.

Rather than being centred on a single discipline, institution or industry, the community is designed to bring together people from different backgrounds who are interested in exploring deep open problems collaboratively.

What are Light Bulbs and Sparks ?

Light Bulbs are a way of recognising thoughts, replies and profiles that you find particularly insightful or interesting. You can Light Bulb a Thought in the Thought Channel, an insightful reply or discussion contribution, as well as a member's profile whose work or ideas resonate with you. As the Fellowship develops, Light Bulbs will help the ThAT Team track who is making the greatest impact within the community. Over time, Light Bulbs may also help inform opportunities such as invitations or Fellowship consideration, as one of several subtle signals of engagement and impact.

Sparks are connections between members within the Fellowship Hub. If you come across someone whose work, interests or ideas resonate with you, you can send them a Spark request to connect. Connections are mutual: the recipient must accept the request before the connection is created. Once accepted, both profiles receive a Spark, indicating a shared connection within the community.

What is the Fellowship and Ambassador Programme?

The programme is a global interdisciplinary community designed to connect people interested in open problems in intelligence, cognition, AI and complex systems.

It provides opportunities to:

• Join discussions and seminars
• Attend and host events
• Connect with others across disciplines
• Share work and ideas with the wider community

What is the difference between a Fellow and an Ambassador?

Both Fellows and Ambassadors are part of the same broader community and have access to many of the same discussions, events and opportunities.

Fellows typically may have a more technical role within the network and are often selected based on previous engagement, research experience or consistent contribution to the community.

The Ambassador programme serves as the primary entry point into the network and offers a pathway into future Fellowship opportunities.

Is this a funded fellowship?

No, the programme is community-based rather than grant-based. It is designed to support intellectual exchange, collaboration and visibility rather than provide direct research funding.

How much time does participation require?

The programme is lightweight and flexible, with no fixed hourly commitments. Members engage in ways that fit around their academic, research or professional schedules. Merit is gained through meaningful participation rather than simple hours spent.

What are the expectations of Ambassadors and Fellows?

Participation can include:

• Staying connected to programme updates
• Joining discussions or seminars
• Sharing relevant opportunities with colleagues
• Attending or hosting events

Additional involvement is entirely optional.

Do I need to be a student or affiliated with a university?

No. Our community includes:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students
• PhD candidates
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Professors
• Independent researchers
• Industry researchers and founders

How do I become a Fellow?

Fellowship positions are typically offered to individuals who demonstrate strong engagement within the community, research alignment or contribution to discussions in seminars and events over time.

Can I invite someone else to join the community?

Absolutely. We welcome referrals from members of the community. If you know or work with someone whose work or interests align with Thinking About Thinking, feel free to invite them to apply.

Can I involve my student society, research group, lab or club?

Yes, we actively encourage Ambassadors and Fellows to involve their wider communities. If you are part of a student society, university club, research lab, reading group, startup community or interdisciplinary initiative, you are very welcome to share our events and opportunities with them.

Groups interested in becoming involved can:

• Attend events together
• Nominate their members into the Ambassador programme
• Collaborate on discussions, events or workshops
• Host joint events with Thinking About Thinking

To get involved, simply reach out to the team through the contact details provided in the Hub or email us directly with a short introduction to your group and areas of interest.

Is there a code of conduct for the community?

Yes. We aim to foster a thoughtful, respectful and intellectually curious environment where members feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions and engaging across disciplines. We encourage open discussion and constructive debate, and recognise that disagreement is often an important part of intellectual exchange.

To help maintain a positive and collaborative atmosphere, public spaces within the community, including the Thought Channel, Seminar Chat and other shared forums, will be moderated. While diverse perspectives and critical discussion are welcomed, disrespectful behaviour, personal attacks, or derogatory language will not be tolerated.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

You can contact the Thinking About Thinking team directly through the contact details provided in the Hub or onboarding communications.

• Clare Maguire · COO · clare@thinkingaboutthinking.org
• Georgina Cole · Marketing & Operations Coordinator · georgina@thinkingaboutthinking.org