Many high-impact ideas related to Effective Altruism (EA)—such as existential risks, global catastrophic biological risks, and alternative protein governance—are poorly represented on Wikipedia, a primary source of information for policymakers, academics, and the public. This gap limits the diffusion of EA concepts into mainstream discourse, where Wikipedia often serves as a first reference point.

Filling the Knowledge Gap

One way to address this issue could be by creating and improving Wikipedia articles on EA-aligned topics, focusing on those with high policy relevance and low existing coverage. For example:

• New articles: "Existential Risk," "Global Catastrophic Biological Risk," or "Governance of Alternative Proteins."
• Expanded articles: Adding EA-relevant sections to existing pages (e.g., "Biological Weapons Convention") with details like funding or country-specific regulations.

The work would emphasize neutrality, verifiability, and citations to reliable sources (e.g., academic papers, government reports). Contributors might collaborate through EA forums or student groups to ensure quality and distribute effort.

Stakeholder Benefits and Incentives

This effort could benefit several groups:

• Policymakers: Those researching topics like biosecurity or AI safety may encounter well-sourced information, leading to better-informed decisions.
• EA newcomers: Writing articles could deepen their understanding while contributing to a public good.
• General public: Improved awareness of neglected issues, such as dual-use research risks.

Wikipedia editors might be motivated by improving public knowledge, while EA organizations could benefit from increased visibility. Contributors could gain research and communication skills, with some valuing indirect impact.

Execution and Challenges

A phased approach might work:

1. Start by creating 2–3 high-priority articles with input from experts.
2. Expand to policy-focused topics, collaborating with student groups.
3. Maintain articles by monitoring edits and adding updates.

Key challenges include Wikipedia’s notability requirements and maintaining neutrality. To address these, topics could be pre-screened for sufficient independent sources, and contributors could be trained in Wikipedia’s policies.

Since Wikipedia is a public-good platform, monetization might not align with goals, but EA organizations could fund stipends or research to support the effort. Metrics like pageviews, edits by non-EA contributors, and citations in policy documents could help gauge impact indirectly.