A weekly reading group in Dubai on how science and technology make the world better, and where you fit in.
In October 1977, a hospital cook in Merca, Somalia became the last person to catch smallpox naturally. Ten years earlier it was killing about two million people a year.
Vaccines, freezers, motorbikes and good data ended it. Every week we read about problems like this, the solved ones and the open ones.
One short piece a week. About 20 minutes.
75 minutes over coffee with people who read it too.
Careers, projects and giving, at your own pace.
Each session starts from one question and one reading. You can join at any week.
Our World in Data, “Smallpox”
Max Roser, “The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better.”
Charles Mann on Norman Borlaug, The Atlantic
Our World in Data on oral rehydration therapy
Hans Rosling, Factfulness, chapter 1
Max Roser, “Why did renewables become so cheap so fast?”
Nobel Prize 2023 popular summary, Karikó and Weissman
DeepMind on AlphaFold
The story of the R21 malaria vaccine
Hannah Ritchie, Not the End of the World, one chapter
80,000 Hours on preventing pandemics
Rutger Bregman, Moral Ambition, one chapter, and Paul Graham, “How to Do What You Love”
Engineers, bankers, doctors, founders, students. Curious people who like a good argument. No science background needed.
No. The readings are written for curious people, and the best questions often come from someone outside the field.
Nothing. You buy your own coffee. We never ask for money.
No. We read about science, health and technology. People of every faith and none are welcome, and we keep politics out of it.
No. Each session stands on its own. Save a seat for the weeks that interest you.
Nothing you have to do. Some people pick a topic to read more about. Once a month we have a dinner where members share what they have been exploring, and once a quarter a “What now?” evening on careers, building and giving.
Sign-ups run on Luma. You get a confirmation straight away, then the reading and the venue a week before the session.