The Big Question

Some communities generate extraordinary outcomes while others struggle or fade away. What makes the difference? We will explore this question by examining how well-established communities adapt to the modern age: from how ancient wisdom traditions engage with modern challenges, to how the scientific community adapts AI tools, to how we build healthier relationships in digital spaces and use collective decision-making to empower local communities..

Our Approach

Three days of collaborative exploration where we’re building understanding together

Friday Evening: Opening circle – who are we and what questions are we bringing?

Saturday:

• Morning: Learning from different community types through interactive sessions
• Afternoon: Cross-pollination workshops where insights meet practice
• Evening: Social experiments in community building

Sunday: Integration and forward momentum – what did we discover and how do we keep this energy alive?

The Mix We’re Creating

We’re bringing together an unusual combination of people who don’t normally meet in the same room: computational biologists working on research collaboration, social entrepreneurs tackling homelessness, game designers exploring narrative and community, mathematicians studying complex systems, practitioners building wisdom communities, and policy researchers examining governance innovation.

This cross-pollination across domains – science, spirituality, technology, social change – is where the most interesting insights tend to emerge.

What We’ll Explore Together

Scientific networks integrating human insight with computational tools: case studies of interdisciplinary breakthroughs, AI in academic science, open science community-building

Governance communities navigating technological change: human-AI decision-making, collective intelligence tools for communities

Wisdom traditions in dialogue with modern innovation: exploring consciousness in human-AI interaction, ancient practices for technological overwhelm, understanding interdependence between living and artificial systems

Digital spaces where connection meets algorithms: designing technology for genuine human connection, healing algorithmic polarization, creating spaces that enhance rather than replace embodied relationships

Local communities balancing traditional and new knowledge: exploring new ways of living together as communities integrated in a global web of relationships, finding sustainability and resilience, and co-production with local and marginalised communities for higher-level societal change.

Who Should Join

We’re looking for curious, motivated people who care about how communities work:

• Anyone working on projects that could benefit from stronger community connections
• Practitioners interested in collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action
• People building communities in any domain – online, local, professional, creative
• Researchers and students studying any aspect of how groups function
• People who want to meet others with shared values around positive change

We value diverse perspectives and experiences. What matters most is genuine curiosity and readiness to contribute to our shared exploration.

The Setting

A beautifully restored historic venue in the Czech countryside, about an hour from Prague. Libraries, gardens, and intimate spaces designed for both focused dialogue and spontaneous connection. The kind of place where interesting conversations happen naturally.

Getting there

By train + pickup: the nearest station is Golčův Jeníkov, with regular trains from Prague (75 mins) and Brno (2 hours). We’ll arrange pickup from the station (4km to venue) – let us know your arrival details in the form we will share with registered participants.

Participation & Accommodation

Subsidised: €100 (2,500 CZK) – shared room, for students and those with limited resources
Standard: €170 (4,250 CZK) – shared room (with one other person)
Supporter: €250 (6,250 CZK) – private room, helps make the workshop accessible to others

All rates include accommodation, full catering (Friday dinner – Sunday lunch) with meals accommodating all dietary requirements, and complete programming. We want the right people regardless of financial situation.

Bonus Option: Want to extend your time in the region? Stay for focused co-working Sept 29-Oct 3 at the same venue (€40/night additional).

Current Team

František Drahota: entrepreneurship, collective meaning-making and community building, theology, event production

Estere Seinkmane, PhD: cell and computational biology, science outreach, community-building, interdisciplinary and open science

Elliot Harris: social entrepreneurship, co-production, humanitarian aid and logistics

Aaron Halpern, PhD: systems modelling for collective intelligence and AI infrastructure, interdisciplinary research (molecular biology and astrophysics background)

Andrew Szabados, PhD: complex systems, AI strategy, and decision science, background in cognitive science and organizational design

Plus emerging collaborators from mathematics, game design, systems thinking, and other fields. Programme developing based on who joins and what expertise you bring.

Beyond the Weekend

This is an experiment in building lasting connections. We’re interested in how the energy and insights from our time together can continue – through ongoing collaborations, shared projects, and future gatherings.

Join Us

We’re assembling a diverse group of thoughtful people ready to explore together.

Limited to ~40 people to ensure quality dialogue and genuine connection.

If you are unable to join this time, but are interested in this type of events, please fill in this expression of interest form.

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This is collaborative and experimental – we’re figuring it out together based on who comes and what questions emerge. Feel free to email if you have any questions, want to lead a session or be part of the organising team!

Email: communities.workshop@gmail.com