The Pivotal Questions Initiative identifies research questions where resolving uncertainty could substantially improve funding decisions in global health, animal welfare, and other cause areas.
These workshops bring together researchers, funders, and practitioners to review evidence, discuss methodological challenges, and elicit expert beliefs on key uncertainties.
Wellbeing Measurement Workshop
CompletedCan WELLBY-based cost-effectiveness estimates be trusted for funding decisions? This workshop, held in March 2026, examined the reliability of wellbeing measures and whether DALYs and WELLBYs can be meaningfully compared. A transcript and background resources are now available.
Cultivated Meat Workshop
ConfirmedWhat will cultivated meat cost in 2031, 2036, and 2051? This workshop reviews techno-economic analyses (TEAs) and explores what the evidence means for animal welfare funding decisions.
Plant-Based Substitution Workshop
Early PlanningHow much do plant-based alternatives substitute for animal products—especially chicken? This workshop examines cross-price elasticity evidence and its implications for animal welfare funding.
AI Safety & Governance Evaluation
Discussion GroupShould The Unjournal expand into evaluating AI safety and governance research? This working-group discussion covers strategic focus, timely evaluation methods, and a specific question: whether to pursue the Ord RL Scaling evaluation.