I should really look into this properly, but I bet that being part of a community, i.e. having regular contact and some common activities and goals with like-minded people, scores very highly in human happiness’ prediction. I’d even go as far as to say it’s one of the highest – we are social animals after all, and feeling that you’re a valued member of the pack is so important.

For me personally, I was thinking about introversion vs extroversion. Clearly being an introvert is considered cool and proper, within my circles anyway – c’mon, the place is called INTP. So I’ve always fancied myself as one, but don’t think I actually am. The more accurate, or the one I like more, description on I vs E is NOT whether you prefer to spend time alone or with other people, but where you get your energy from. Is it by thinking and doing things on your own, and then you have to sacrifice some energy to be with others, or is it by interacting and getting ideas from the people around, and then it disappears if you don’t have this sort of real human contact for some time. I mean energy as spoons, physical energy is a related but different thing. Being with people and talking lots is tiring for me too, but I now come more and more into realisation that I generally fall under the second category – being with cool interesting people, who I share values and have fun with – is basically what makes my clock tick.

I remember feelings from some (most) of the ABFS science camps, from coming back from Calais and Greece, from getting properly involved in alternative proteins, from visiting INTP: yes, these things have supposedly good outcomes – science, outreach, refugee support – but if I’m honest with myself that’s not at all the primary reason why I keep coming back to them. The first feeling is just being part of something awesome, feeling love and faith in a general sense for fellow human beings and the humanity, feeling excited to spend time with so many interesting people. Sleep deprivation-fuelled making of timetables and intellectual games together in the ABFS camp, motivational and fun posters in the Auberge warehouse in Calais, rare but inspiration-filled in-person meetings with Cell Ag UK, didgeridoo and oud music jams at INTP – those are the memories that come to mind first, not the science or the mission.

Also videos: 1. didgeridoo jam at INTP, 2. at 2am sleep-deprived camp staff impromptu playing & singing hava nagila, for no camp-related purpose, although then leading to the idea for live music wake-up for the kids at 8am same day (oh how I wish I could remove my squeaks for this but it still brings me joy)

I am socially anxious some (or a lot, depending on the period) of the time, and a nerd, that’s why my extroversion in this sense was closeted. I’m not into going out drinking and clubbing – unfortunately a highly prevalent way to form communities in the West – so, for example, struggled at times socially in my undergraduate degree, as well as at school. But organisations like ABFS, Linguistics Olympiads, Cambridge colleges/LMB, and INTP change everything – wait what, you can be a nerd AND be social with other people?! А чё, так можно было? (long story, a catchphrase that literally translates as “wait what, was that allowed?” – a kind of self-ironic way to say you didn’t actually need permission for something that now seems quite obvious in the first place).

And it’s not just about feeling great. I touched on it in my recent post about depression (Russian-language-only, sorry), but it was so humbling and heart-warming for me to see that some of these places and communities can accept and support me when I’m struggling too. I found it hard to believe how understanding my supervisor and other staff people in Cambridge were of my situation when I had to take an intermission immediately after starting a PhD – seems to make sense now, they would know what a burnout and a high-stress environment is, but still, I would’ve totally quit my PhD at the time if it wasn’t for their encouragement not to, surprising me back then. And last year going to ABFS science camp… In 2023 I was leading a project, and so pumped to be back there after a 5-year break, planning all sorts of extra involvement too. In 2024 I couldn’t do anything – not help in a project, not supervise kids, not find and bring stationary when asked, in addition to taking up the precious time of other staff having to deal with me essentially having panic and anxiety attacks. It was so incredibly embarrassing but I’m also so incredibly grateful that there is a community like that, where I’m welcome even in such a state.

So yes, this is what I’m trying to get out of INTS, and out of its inaugural “Communities” theme. Science is great, nature is beautiful, but ultimately it is about community-building and people. Literally some (most even) of my favourite people on the planet are supporting this idea of mine, and joining for the week – what more can I ask for?