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The 2022 Future Perfect 50

The scientists, thinkers, scholars, writers, and activists building a more perfect future.

Introducing the 2022 Future Perfect 50Introducing the 2022 Future Perfect 50
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

The scientists, thinkers, scholars, writers, and activists building a more perfect future.

By Bryan Walsh
Setsuko Thurlow is a living reminder of the horrors of nuclear warSetsuko Thurlow is a living reminder of the horrors of nuclear war
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

She survived the bombing of Hiroshima — and has spent her life campaigning against atomic weapons.

By Bryan Walsh
DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis is AI’s grandmasterDeepMind’s Demis Hassabis is AI’s grandmaster
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

From mastering games to decoding proteins, Hassabis is shepherding the next generation of artificial intelligence.

By Bryan Walsh
Introducing the 2022 Future Perfect 50
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

The scientists, thinkers, scholars, writers, and activists building a more perfect future.

By Bryan Walsh
Setsuko Thurlow is a living reminder of the horrors of nuclear war
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

She survived the bombing of Hiroshima — and has spent her life campaigning against atomic weapons.

By Bryan Walsh
DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis is AI’s grandmaster
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

From mastering games to decoding proteins, Hassabis is shepherding the next generation of artificial intelligence.

By Bryan Walsh

Check out our 2024 list here.

Fighting global poverty and injustice

Skanda Amarnath is figuring out how to fight inflation while keeping people employed
Rayhan Asat and the Uyghurs’ valiant fight against Chinese oppression
Kanika Bahl is finding the unicorns of international development
Economist Chris Blattman has reshaped our understanding of violence and poverty
Leah Boustan is illuminating how and where people migrate — and why it matters
Development programs don’t always work. Rachel Glennerster figures out how and why.
Economics is more than just theory for Seema Jayachandran — it’s a way to help people
Jamila Michener knows that fighting poverty means fighting for democracy
Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak wants to find out what makes antipoverty programs effective
Is “free money” a good idea? Michael Tubbs gave his two cents — and it paid off.
Skanda Amarnath is figuring out how to fight inflation while keeping people employedSkanda Amarnath is figuring out how to fight inflation while keeping people employed
Rayhan Asat and the Uyghurs’ valiant fight against Chinese oppressionRayhan Asat and the Uyghurs’ valiant fight against Chinese oppression
Kanika Bahl is finding the unicorns of international developmentKanika Bahl is finding the unicorns of international development
Economist Chris Blattman has reshaped our understanding of violence and povertyEconomist Chris Blattman has reshaped our understanding of violence and poverty
Leah Boustan is illuminating how and where people migrate — and why it mattersLeah Boustan is illuminating how and where people migrate — and why it matters
Development programs don’t always work. Rachel Glennerster figures out how and why.Development programs don’t always work. Rachel Glennerster figures out how and why.
Economics is more than just theory for Seema Jayachandran — it’s a way to help peopleEconomics is more than just theory for Seema Jayachandran — it’s a way to help people
Jamila Michener knows that fighting poverty means fighting for democracyJamila Michener knows that fighting poverty means fighting for democracy
Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak wants to find out what makes antipoverty programs effectiveAhmed Mushfiq Mobarak wants to find out what makes antipoverty programs effective
Is “free money” a good idea? Michael Tubbs gave his two cents — and it paid off.Is “free money” a good idea? Michael Tubbs gave his two cents — and it paid off.

Confronting humanity’s biggest threats

Joy Buolamwini saw first-hand the harm of AI bias. Now she’s challenging tech to do better.
How smart will AI get? Ajeya Cotra has an answer.
Kevin Esvelt wants to make the world safe from — and for — biotechnology
Liu Hongqiao is holding China accountable for its role in the climate crisis
Jason Matheny is helping humanity prepare for the existential threats of the future
How Ted Nordhaus brought realpolitik to climate politics
Our health care data infrastructure is broken. Caitlin Rivers hopes to fix it.
Setsuko Thurlow is a living reminder of the horrors of nuclear war
DARPA changed technology. Now Renee Wegrzyn wants to bring the same innovation to medicine.
Joy Buolamwini saw first-hand the harm of AI bias. Now she’s challenging tech to do better.Joy Buolamwini saw first-hand the harm of AI bias. Now she’s challenging tech to do better.
How smart will AI get? Ajeya Cotra has an answer.How smart will AI get? Ajeya Cotra has an answer.
Kevin Esvelt wants to make the world safe from — and for — biotechnologyKevin Esvelt wants to make the world safe from — and for — biotechnology
Liu Hongqiao is holding China accountable for its role in the climate crisisLiu Hongqiao is holding China accountable for its role in the climate crisis
Jason Matheny is helping humanity prepare for the existential threats of the futureJason Matheny is helping humanity prepare for the existential threats of the future
How Ted Nordhaus brought realpolitik to climate politicsHow Ted Nordhaus brought realpolitik to climate politics
Our health care data infrastructure is broken. Caitlin Rivers hopes to fix it.Our health care data infrastructure is broken. Caitlin Rivers hopes to fix it.
Setsuko Thurlow is a living reminder of the horrors of nuclear warSetsuko Thurlow is a living reminder of the horrors of nuclear war
DARPA changed technology. Now Renee Wegrzyn wants to bring the same innovation to medicine.DARPA changed technology. Now Renee Wegrzyn wants to bring the same innovation to medicine.

Imagining the future

How can we make the world progress faster? Jason Crawford wants to know.
Jennifer Doudna helped rewrite life with CRISPR
Hilary Greaves is the world’s leading philosopher of the long-term future
DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis is AI’s grandmaster
Future generations don’t have a voice in politics. Sophie Howe is changing that.
Will MacAskill made effective altruism a household term in 2022
The novelist Kim Stanley Robinson’s vision roves from the deep past to the distant future
The physicist Max Tegmark works to ensure that life has a future
How can we make the world progress faster? Jason Crawford wants to know.How can we make the world progress faster? Jason Crawford wants to know.
Jennifer Doudna helped rewrite life with CRISPRJennifer Doudna helped rewrite life with CRISPR
Hilary Greaves is the world’s leading philosopher of the long-term futureHilary Greaves is the world’s leading philosopher of the long-term future
DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis is AI’s grandmasterDeepMind’s Demis Hassabis is AI’s grandmaster
Future generations don’t have a voice in politics. Sophie Howe is changing that.Future generations don’t have a voice in politics. Sophie Howe is changing that.
Will MacAskill made effective altruism a household term in 2022Will MacAskill made effective altruism a household term in 2022
The novelist Kim Stanley Robinson’s vision roves from the deep past to the distant futureThe novelist Kim Stanley Robinson’s vision roves from the deep past to the distant future
The physicist Max Tegmark works to ensure that life has a futureThe physicist Max Tegmark works to ensure that life has a future

Working toward a healthier world

Target Malaria’s scientists are working to rid Africa of an ancient plague
Lucia Coulter and Jack Rafferty want to strip the world of lead-based paint
Leah Utyasheva and Michael Eddleston are saving lives from suicide in the Global South
Pollution poisons millions. Richard Fuller and Pure Earth are doing something about it.
Josh Morrison took risks for science, and he thinks you can, too
Target Malaria’s scientists are working to rid Africa of an ancient plagueTarget Malaria’s scientists are working to rid Africa of an ancient plague
Lucia Coulter and Jack Rafferty want to strip the world of lead-based paintLucia Coulter and Jack Rafferty want to strip the world of lead-based paint
Leah Utyasheva and Michael Eddleston are saving lives from suicide in the Global SouthLeah Utyasheva and Michael Eddleston are saving lives from suicide in the Global South
Pollution poisons millions. Richard Fuller and Pure Earth are doing something about it.Pollution poisons millions. Richard Fuller and Pure Earth are doing something about it.
Josh Morrison took risks for science, and he thinks you can, tooJosh Morrison took risks for science, and he thinks you can, too

Expanding the rights of animals

The future of meat requires new intellectual infrastructure. That’s what Isha Datar is building.
Carolina Galvani wants to make factory farming in the Global South more humane
Leah Garcés proved animal rights activism can make room for everyone — even the farmers
Olga Kikou has helped make Europe the leading edge of an animal welfare revolution
We didn’t know fish feel pain. Then the zoologist Lynne Sneddon came along.
Liz Specht is shaping the next generation of meat alternatives
Ryan Xue is cultivating a better meat industry in China
The future of meat requires new intellectual infrastructure. That’s what Isha Datar is building.The future of meat requires new intellectual infrastructure. That’s what Isha Datar is building.
Carolina Galvani wants to make factory farming in the Global South more humaneCarolina Galvani wants to make factory farming in the Global South more humane
Leah Garcés proved animal rights activism can make room for everyone — even the farmersLeah Garcés proved animal rights activism can make room for everyone — even the farmers
Olga Kikou has helped make Europe the leading edge of an animal welfare revolutionOlga Kikou has helped make Europe the leading edge of an animal welfare revolution
We didn’t know fish feel pain. Then the zoologist Lynne Sneddon came along.We didn’t know fish feel pain. Then the zoologist Lynne Sneddon came along.
Liz Specht is shaping the next generation of meat alternativesLiz Specht is shaping the next generation of meat alternatives
Ryan Xue is cultivating a better meat industry in ChinaRyan Xue is cultivating a better meat industry in China

Helping us think better

Scientific progress is at risk of slowing down. Saloni Dattani is making sure it doesn’t.
Explaining science doesn’t have to be complicated. Just ask Kurzgesagt’s Philipp Dettmer.
Jennifer Doleac is helping us find nuanced, effective ways to fight crime
Julia Galef thinks we should be more like scouts instead of soldiers
Max Roser doesn’t want us to lose sight of progress
Zeynep Tufekci has been consistently ahead of the curve on Covid-19
Scientific progress is at risk of slowing down. Saloni Dattani is making sure it doesn’t.Scientific progress is at risk of slowing down. Saloni Dattani is making sure it doesn’t.
Explaining science doesn’t have to be complicated. Just ask Kurzgesagt’s Philipp Dettmer.Explaining science doesn’t have to be complicated. Just ask Kurzgesagt’s Philipp Dettmer.
Jennifer Doleac is helping us find nuanced, effective ways to fight crimeJennifer Doleac is helping us find nuanced, effective ways to fight crime
Julia Galef thinks we should be more like scouts instead of soldiersJulia Galef thinks we should be more like scouts instead of soldiers
Max Roser doesn’t want us to lose sight of progressMax Roser doesn’t want us to lose sight of progress
Zeynep Tufekci has been consistently ahead of the curve on Covid-19Zeynep Tufekci has been consistently ahead of the curve on Covid-19

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