Many high-impact fields beyond Artificial Intelligence Safety (AIS), like biosecurity, nuclear security, and climate engineering, face a critical shortage of accessible training programs and educational resources. This gap restricts the flow of talent into these areas and limits cross-disciplinary collaboration with AIS. A possible approach to addressing this challenge is creating structured learning materials and fostering dedicated communities for these neglected fields.

Educational Pathways for Emerging Fields

One way to bridge this gap could involve developing modular, expert-vetted educational content—ranging from introductory primers to advanced workshops—delivered through platforms like YouTube or dedicated course websites. The project might focus on:

• Curriculum design: Collaborating with specialists to create adaptable learning tracks.
• Practical engagement: Supplementing theory with case studies, simulations, and mentorship pairings.
• Cross-disciplinary links: Explicitly connecting concepts to AIS and adjacent fields to encourage knowledge sharing.

A pilot could test demand by starting with one domain (e.g., biosecurity) before expanding to others.

Building Communities of Practice

Beyond standalone courses, the initiative could cultivate ongoing engagement through discussion forums, networking events, and collaborative projects. For example:

• Learners might join a moderated Discord server to discuss coursework with peers.
• Seasoned professionals could offer office hours or project feedback sessions.
• Annual conferences might showcase student research and facilitate job placements.

This combination of education and community could help sustain interest and career transitions in these fields.

Implementation Strategies

To test feasibility, initial steps might include:

1. Partnering with 2-3 biosecurity experts to create a free mini-course.
2. Hosting the content on an existing platform while measuring completion rates.
3. Running a parallel discussion group to assess community engagement.

Feedback from this pilot would inform whether to scale content production, add certification tracks, or seek institutional partnerships.

By lowering barriers to entry in critical but under-resourced fields, this approach could expand the talent pipeline while fostering valuable interdisciplinary connections.