Our Vision
Just as the world revealed by science in the 19th century was replaced by that of the 20th century, a new picture will arise in the 21st century, drawing on new and unanticipated breakthroughs. Rather than mainstream institutions, we believe this new picture will come from the heroic efforts of visionary scientists and pluralistic research teams—and that many of the breakthroughs have actually already been made.
Progress in science inevitably gives birth to new technology. We believe new technology can empower humanity, if it is developed and used responsibly. Some responsibility for the power of technology rests with the scientists who enable it. It is crucial, therefore, that scientific progress be made responsibly. At the same time, progress should also happen quickly, since new technology, born of new science, can save lives and make the world much better. We envision a future where science is fast, cheap, careful, and done for the benefit of all humankind. That future, if it occurs, will be built deliberately by people who understand its value.
Our History
Founded on the East Coast in 2011, the Leverage team moved to Silicon Valley in 2013 to join the tech scene. Alongside the Effective Altruism movement and the Less Wrong Rationalist community, Leverage experimented with new ways of thinking, improving the world, and working together. The EA movement was rocked by scandal; the Rationalists were eaten by AI. Leverage, instead, turned to science.
Leverage’s first focus was on the social sciences, where the team grew to 45 people and the organization attracted high profile donors like Peter Thiel (Palantir), Jaan Tallinn (Skype), and Luke Nosek (PayPal). The primary focus, especially during 2012-19, was developing and testing theories and instruments for examining the human mind. Occasionally controversial, the project developed the basis for an entirely new science of the mind. The results now await replication.
In 2019-24, with a much smaller team, Leverage turned to metascience, conducting case studies on major breakthroughs in the history of science and studying bottlenecks in different fields. During this time, it was discovered that Leverage’s methods, developed during the previous decade, in combination with its metascientific learnings, could be applied in the natural sciences. At the same time, the organization developed an ethos of transparency and public engagement as part of achieving organizational maturity.
In 2024-25, the organization began work in the life and physical sciences, supporting university teams leaving academia while building internal research capacity. Leverage’s team is now setting up systematic studies at the actual frontiers of scientific understanding, including quantum biology, magnetobiology, nucleonics, and discrete science. These studies are expected to converge on the most palpable remaining scientific mystery, namely, biological life.
Our Approach
After World War II, science was reorganized into its present form: centralized, academic, and with varying ties to industry. Some breakthroughs have been made, but over the past few decades, it has become clear that the scientific enterprise as a whole is stagnating. The world according to science is much the same today as it was fifty years ago. Attempts to create new physical theories have failed; sequencing the human genome was much less impactful than originally anticipated.
Now, mainstream science approaches a crisis. Scientific funding has been cut. Academic institutions are weakening. The public is wary of scientific overreach. The degree of scientific misinformation, in part a result of AI, makes it harder to tell where progress is really happening. It is clear that a reorganization of science is necessary. With its core team, growing army of research contractors, and fleet of allied organizations, Leverage is well-positioned to help and intends to lead by example.
Meet the Team
Leverage Staff
Geoff Anders
Geoff founded Leverage Research in 2011 to support independent research aimed at improving the world. He is the CEO and Director of Research.
Oliver Carefull
Oliver was a founding member of Leverage Research in 2011 and currently works as both a Research Communicator and Head of Culture.
Melinda Bradley
As COO and Event Logistics Coordinator at Leverage, Melinda manages all of the day-to-day operations of the organization.
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Dan Graham
Dan currently works at Leverage part time as a history of science researcher.
Members of the board
Geoff Anders
Geoff founded Leverage Research in 2011 to support independent research aimed at improving the world. He is the CEO and Director of Research.
Oliver Carefull
Oliver was a founding member of Leverage Research in 2011 and currently works as both a Research Communicator and Head of Culture.
Nevin Freeman
Nevin was a founding member of Leverage Research in 2011. He subsequently co-founded Reserve and is now the president of Confusion Capital.
Advisors
Larissa Vaughan-Rowe
Larissa advises Leverage on topics pertaining to public engagement. She worked at Leverage from 2019-2023 and was Chief Operating Officer.
Support Our Research
Leverage is funded by medium and small donors who believe in its ability to accomplish amazing things. Our priorities are in part determined by public interest, which we take donation to be an imperfect signal of. Donate today and tell us what you want to see more of.
