Centre for the Study of Existential Risk
@cser.bsky.social
Cambridge University interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the study and mitigation of risks that could lead to human extinction or civilizational collapse.
We'd like to welcome Anthony Torres-Ruesta to CSER as a new Research Associate!
His work examines the challenges & dual-use implications of AI for pandemic preparedness and response. His research sits at the intersection of infectious disease science, global health, and biosecurity.
buff.ly/L9Tdi9f
His work examines the challenges & dual-use implications of AI for pandemic preparedness and response. His research sits at the intersection of infectious disease science, global health, and biosecurity.
buff.ly/L9Tdi9f
January 21, 2026 at 10:01 AM
We'd like to welcome Anthony Torres-Ruesta to CSER as a new Research Associate!
His work examines the challenges & dual-use implications of AI for pandemic preparedness and response. His research sits at the intersection of infectious disease science, global health, and biosecurity.
buff.ly/L9Tdi9f
His work examines the challenges & dual-use implications of AI for pandemic preparedness and response. His research sits at the intersection of infectious disease science, global health, and biosecurity.
buff.ly/L9Tdi9f
Interested in researching and teaching global risk & resilience at the University of Cambridge?
ITH is recruiting an Assistant Professor to join CSER to lead research & contribute to teaching on the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply here: buff.ly/Fhnd0pW
ITH is recruiting an Assistant Professor to join CSER to lead research & contribute to teaching on the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply here: buff.ly/Fhnd0pW
January 13, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Interested in researching and teaching global risk & resilience at the University of Cambridge?
ITH is recruiting an Assistant Professor to join CSER to lead research & contribute to teaching on the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply here: buff.ly/Fhnd0pW
ITH is recruiting an Assistant Professor to join CSER to lead research & contribute to teaching on the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply here: buff.ly/Fhnd0pW
A snowy start to the New Year in Cambridge!❄️
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
A snowy start to the New Year in Cambridge!❄️
We're pleased to welcome Emma Patten as our new Postgraduate Co-ordinator!
Emma has experience in further and higher education providing academic support and programme administration. She holds an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Leeds.
Emma has experience in further and higher education providing academic support and programme administration. She holds an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Leeds.
January 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
We're pleased to welcome Emma Patten as our new Postgraduate Co-ordinator!
Emma has experience in further and higher education providing academic support and programme administration. She holds an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Leeds.
Emma has experience in further and higher education providing academic support and programme administration. She holds an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Leeds.
Curious about the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
Watch a recording of our virtual open day with course Co-Directors Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer! The session covers the course structure, core and optional modules, how to apply and more.
Link to video below⬇️
Watch a recording of our virtual open day with course Co-Directors Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer! The session covers the course structure, core and optional modules, how to apply and more.
Link to video below⬇️
December 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Curious about the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
Watch a recording of our virtual open day with course Co-Directors Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer! The session covers the course structure, core and optional modules, how to apply and more.
Link to video below⬇️
Watch a recording of our virtual open day with course Co-Directors Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer! The session covers the course structure, core and optional modules, how to apply and more.
Link to video below⬇️
CSER is looking for an Assistant Professor in Global Risk and Resilience!
The role holder will lead research relevant to the study of global risk and resilience and contribute to teaching, assessment, and admissions for CSER's MPhil.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply and learn more: bit.ly/4j3PZyT
The role holder will lead research relevant to the study of global risk and resilience and contribute to teaching, assessment, and admissions for CSER's MPhil.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply and learn more: bit.ly/4j3PZyT
December 17, 2025 at 11:18 AM
CSER is looking for an Assistant Professor in Global Risk and Resilience!
The role holder will lead research relevant to the study of global risk and resilience and contribute to teaching, assessment, and admissions for CSER's MPhil.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply and learn more: bit.ly/4j3PZyT
The role holder will lead research relevant to the study of global risk and resilience and contribute to teaching, assessment, and admissions for CSER's MPhil.
Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply and learn more: bit.ly/4j3PZyT
🎄The CSER team started the holiday season yesterday with our Christmas lunch!
December 10, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🎄The CSER team started the holiday season yesterday with our Christmas lunch!
We're pleased to welcome Vanessa Burns as a Teaching Associate on our MPhil programme!
Dr Vanessa Burns is a political scientist with research interests in resilience and adaptation to climate change, extreme climate change, environmental governance, and environmental justice.
Dr Vanessa Burns is a political scientist with research interests in resilience and adaptation to climate change, extreme climate change, environmental governance, and environmental justice.
December 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
We're pleased to welcome Vanessa Burns as a Teaching Associate on our MPhil programme!
Dr Vanessa Burns is a political scientist with research interests in resilience and adaptation to climate change, extreme climate change, environmental governance, and environmental justice.
Dr Vanessa Burns is a political scientist with research interests in resilience and adaptation to climate change, extreme climate change, environmental governance, and environmental justice.
Last week our MPhil students took part in a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) simulation as part of the Governing Climate Catastrophe elective.
They debated how to respond to a hypothetical collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major climate tipping point.
🧵
They debated how to respond to a hypothetical collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major climate tipping point.
🧵
December 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Last week our MPhil students took part in a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) simulation as part of the Governing Climate Catastrophe elective.
They debated how to respond to a hypothetical collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major climate tipping point.
🧵
They debated how to respond to a hypothetical collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major climate tipping point.
🧵
Want to stay updated on the latest research, publications, and events from CSER?
Sign up to our monthly newsletter for a round up of our latest work, opportunities, and insights from across our community.
Subscribe below⬇️
Sign up to our monthly newsletter for a round up of our latest work, opportunities, and insights from across our community.
Subscribe below⬇️
November 28, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Want to stay updated on the latest research, publications, and events from CSER?
Sign up to our monthly newsletter for a round up of our latest work, opportunities, and insights from across our community.
Subscribe below⬇️
Sign up to our monthly newsletter for a round up of our latest work, opportunities, and insights from across our community.
Subscribe below⬇️
How much risk is too much for the world’s top insurers?
Did you miss Lorraine Daston’s lecture in September on how the insurance industry confronts catastrophic risk?
👀You can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/BEqrapJURxI?...
Did you miss Lorraine Daston’s lecture in September on how the insurance industry confronts catastrophic risk?
👀You can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/BEqrapJURxI?...
November 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
How much risk is too much for the world’s top insurers?
Did you miss Lorraine Daston’s lecture in September on how the insurance industry confronts catastrophic risk?
👀You can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/BEqrapJURxI?...
Did you miss Lorraine Daston’s lecture in September on how the insurance industry confronts catastrophic risk?
👀You can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/BEqrapJURxI?...
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
🌍 Systems
Inspired by planetary tipping point research, the segments represent processes, flows and structures that are important for keeping the biosphere stable.
🌍 Systems
Inspired by planetary tipping point research, the segments represent processes, flows and structures that are important for keeping the biosphere stable.
November 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
🌍 Systems
Inspired by planetary tipping point research, the segments represent processes, flows and structures that are important for keeping the biosphere stable.
🌍 Systems
Inspired by planetary tipping point research, the segments represent processes, flows and structures that are important for keeping the biosphere stable.
📢 Funding deadline: 2 December 2025
Applying for the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
💡 Funding available — including the Lord Martin Rees Scholarships (Home students) and the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (Developing Commonwealth countries).
Find out more: www.cser.ac.uk/education/mp...
Applying for the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
💡 Funding available — including the Lord Martin Rees Scholarships (Home students) and the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (Developing Commonwealth countries).
Find out more: www.cser.ac.uk/education/mp...
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM
📢 Funding deadline: 2 December 2025
Applying for the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
💡 Funding available — including the Lord Martin Rees Scholarships (Home students) and the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (Developing Commonwealth countries).
Find out more: www.cser.ac.uk/education/mp...
Applying for the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
💡 Funding available — including the Lord Martin Rees Scholarships (Home students) and the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (Developing Commonwealth countries).
Find out more: www.cser.ac.uk/education/mp...
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
🌲 Environmental hazard
This image depicts a floodplain, representing an area of regulated, human-engineering that dominates organic forms. The human-made city form is mimicked in the circuit board in the top left corner.
🌲 Environmental hazard
This image depicts a floodplain, representing an area of regulated, human-engineering that dominates organic forms. The human-made city form is mimicked in the circuit board in the top left corner.
November 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
🌲 Environmental hazard
This image depicts a floodplain, representing an area of regulated, human-engineering that dominates organic forms. The human-made city form is mimicked in the circuit board in the top left corner.
🌲 Environmental hazard
This image depicts a floodplain, representing an area of regulated, human-engineering that dominates organic forms. The human-made city form is mimicked in the circuit board in the top left corner.
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
💻 AI
This image links the history of coding with the risks and rewards of AI, highlighting its human and material roots in early weaving technologies.
💻 AI
This image links the history of coding with the risks and rewards of AI, highlighting its human and material roots in early weaving technologies.
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
💻 AI
This image links the history of coding with the risks and rewards of AI, highlighting its human and material roots in early weaving technologies.
💻 AI
This image links the history of coding with the risks and rewards of AI, highlighting its human and material roots in early weaving technologies.
“You don’t need to be a great leader to improve a complex system, you need curiosity, compassion, and courage.”
Thank you to everyone who attended 'Conversations on Existential Hope'!
If you’d like to learn more about the book 'Existential Hope', visit: www.sjbeard.com
Thank you to everyone who attended 'Conversations on Existential Hope'!
If you’d like to learn more about the book 'Existential Hope', visit: www.sjbeard.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:11 PM
“You don’t need to be a great leader to improve a complex system, you need curiosity, compassion, and courage.”
Thank you to everyone who attended 'Conversations on Existential Hope'!
If you’d like to learn more about the book 'Existential Hope', visit: www.sjbeard.com
Thank you to everyone who attended 'Conversations on Existential Hope'!
If you’d like to learn more about the book 'Existential Hope', visit: www.sjbeard.com
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
Created by illustrator and Falmouth Lecturer Phyllida Bluemel in collaboration with Dr Lauren Holt, Research Affiliate at CSER, the images explore how existential risk can be visualised and understood.
Created by illustrator and Falmouth Lecturer Phyllida Bluemel in collaboration with Dr Lauren Holt, Research Affiliate at CSER, the images explore how existential risk can be visualised and understood.
October 28, 2025 at 11:30 AM
👀 Have you spotted the new illustrations on our website?
Created by illustrator and Falmouth Lecturer Phyllida Bluemel in collaboration with Dr Lauren Holt, Research Affiliate at CSER, the images explore how existential risk can be visualised and understood.
Created by illustrator and Falmouth Lecturer Phyllida Bluemel in collaboration with Dr Lauren Holt, Research Affiliate at CSER, the images explore how existential risk can be visualised and understood.
Earlier this month, we welcomed the inaugural cohort of MPhil students in Global Risk and Resilience!
We look forward to supporting them as they begin an exciting year exploring the governance and mitigation of global catastrophic risks 🌍
We look forward to supporting them as they begin an exciting year exploring the governance and mitigation of global catastrophic risks 🌍
October 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Earlier this month, we welcomed the inaugural cohort of MPhil students in Global Risk and Resilience!
We look forward to supporting them as they begin an exciting year exploring the governance and mitigation of global catastrophic risks 🌍
We look forward to supporting them as they begin an exciting year exploring the governance and mitigation of global catastrophic risks 🌍
❓ Thinking about applying for our MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
Join our virtual open day on 3 November at 4pm (UK time) with Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer to learn more about the course.
Register here: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/openday
Join our virtual open day on 3 November at 4pm (UK time) with Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer to learn more about the course.
Register here: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/openday
October 22, 2025 at 9:47 AM
❓ Thinking about applying for our MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience?
Join our virtual open day on 3 November at 4pm (UK time) with Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer to learn more about the course.
Register here: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/openday
Join our virtual open day on 3 November at 4pm (UK time) with Alexandru Marcoci and Charlotte Hammer to learn more about the course.
Register here: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/openday
CSER is looking for a Postgraduate Co-ordinator to support our new MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
📅 Deadline: Wednesday 5 November
🔗 Apply and learn more: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/postgra...
📅 Deadline: Wednesday 5 November
🔗 Apply and learn more: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/postgra...
October 20, 2025 at 9:36 AM
CSER is looking for a Postgraduate Co-ordinator to support our new MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
📅 Deadline: Wednesday 5 November
🔗 Apply and learn more: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/postgra...
📅 Deadline: Wednesday 5 November
🔗 Apply and learn more: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/postgra...
📢 Deadline: 19th October 2025
We’re hiring a Teaching Associate to support the delivery of the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
Apply here: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/teachin...
We’re hiring a Teaching Associate to support the delivery of the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
Apply here: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/teachin...
October 14, 2025 at 8:23 AM
📢 Deadline: 19th October 2025
We’re hiring a Teaching Associate to support the delivery of the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
Apply here: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/teachin...
We’re hiring a Teaching Associate to support the delivery of the MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
Apply here: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/teachin...
Today, we’re welcoming the very first cohort of students joining our MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
October 8, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Today, we’re welcoming the very first cohort of students joining our MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience!
-Sophie Cray, Postgraduate Co-ordinator. She has a broad background in Anthropology and Sociology which further led to her Master’s in Gastronomy. Her experience varies from being a Personal Assistant at Oxford University to interning with the World Food Programme in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
October 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
-Sophie Cray, Postgraduate Co-ordinator. She has a broad background in Anthropology and Sociology which further led to her Master’s in Gastronomy. Her experience varies from being a Personal Assistant at Oxford University to interning with the World Food Programme in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
-Alana Weir, Teaching Associate with a focus on disaster risk. Alana’s research interests include developing effective disaster risk assessment methodologies and partnering with stakeholders at the science-practice-policy interface to enhance disaster risk management.
October 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
-Alana Weir, Teaching Associate with a focus on disaster risk. Alana’s research interests include developing effective disaster risk assessment methodologies and partnering with stakeholders at the science-practice-policy interface to enhance disaster risk management.
-Alexandru Marcoci, Assistant Professor with a focus on AI. He has previously been a Research Fellow at Clare Hall, as well as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Nottingham.
October 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
-Alexandru Marcoci, Assistant Professor with a focus on AI. He has previously been a Research Fellow at Clare Hall, as well as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Nottingham.