# Life Itself Research Circle (Collective) Pattern (Adopted)
**URL:** https://forum.secondrenaissance.net/t/life-itself-research-circle-collective-pattern-adopted/782
**Category:** General
**Created:** [June 26, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.secondrenaissance.net/t/life-itself-research-circle-collective-pattern-adopted/782 "2026-06-26T16:05:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rufuspollock](https://forum.secondrenaissance.net/u/rufuspollock)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.secondrenaissance.net/t/life-itself-research-circle-collective-pattern-adopted/782/1 "2026-06-26T16:05:33Z")
On Apr 10, 2026 we had a research collective meeting focused on how we clarify (and evolve) the structure of the Second Renaissance Research Circle.
### 👉 Structure (that was adopted): [Research Circle (Collective) Pattern](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Py0BGjLmaqPgSn8ilxjO7p2O9gdVwD3XesR_4GKlHyE/edit?usp=sharing)
### Agenda
- Meditation
- Introduction: structure for the meeting
- Check-in and Brief Reflection from all
- Present the pattern [Research Circle (Collective) Pattern [Shared]](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Py0BGjLmaqPgSn8ilxjO7p2O9gdVwD3XesR_4GKlHyE/edit?usp=sharing)~~
- Purpose and governance
- A bit clearer about membership e.g. Lightweight annual renewal process for people to opt in
- Stewardship structure (Jonah and Rufus initially)
- Additionals Roles like the following (revolving with a 3-6 month agreement)
- Research Call facilitators
- Scribe and communicator
- Moving to a 2 weekly cycles for Research calls + People can propose their own sub-circles …
- Open for comments, what kinds of sub-circles, if anyone wants to step up to stewardship role.
## Notes from AI (warning: not checked)
### **Meeting Structure & Governance Changes**
- Moving from weekly to biweekly Friday discovery calls
- Off-weeks available for subcircle meetings
- Annual membership review process to maintain active WhatsApp group (500+ members)
- Stewardship circle currently Rufus & Jonah, open to additional members
- Grandfathering existing WhatsApp members as official members
### **White Paper Analysis Subcircle Formation**
- Bob volunteering to lead analysis of existing 5 Second Renaissance white papers
- Launch date: April 24th
- Process: Create one-page PDF proposal for WhatsApp/forum feedback
- Focus: Evaluate current validity, identify research gaps, spawn additional subgroups
- Ian expressing interest in participation
### **Research Program Development Ideas**
- Rufus proposing structured research agenda subcircle
- Issue tree approach with systematic hypothesis investigation
- 3-month commitment, biweekly meetings
- Bob’s modernity analysis as example contrasting perspective
- Need for more specific research programs beyond high-level questions
### **Knowledge Management & Distribution**
- WhatsApp for short posts/links (1 paragraph max)
- Forum for longer analytical content
- White papers for 30+ page research
- Margaret suggesting cybernetic viable system model for organization
- Community gardening role needed for cross-platform curation
### **Subcircle Framework**
- Template includes deliverables, outputs, format specifications
- Time-limited charters (3-12 months)
- Expected feedback to main group meetings
- Open to groups forming outside Friday time slots
- Integration with existing academic/external collaborations
### **Operational Roles Needed**
- Discovery call facilitators (currently only Jonah)
- Content scribes for YouTube/forum posting
- Guest speaker coordination
- Time-limited rotational commitments (3-6 months)
### **Research Themes & Interests**
- Cultural evolution and AI impact (Jonah)
- Social imaginary dynamics (Margaret)
- Consciousness-based transformation capacity (Daniel)
- Post-capitalist money design reading group (Bob)
- Unified logic systems for knowledge integration (Rasmus)
- Metacrisis response strategies (David)
### **Next Steps**
- Bob creating white paper analysis proposal by April 24th
- Jonah updating biweekly schedule and sharing conclusions in WhatsApp
- Members to propose additional subcircle ideas
- Outreach for operational role volunteers
- Forum architecture documentation for knowledge repository
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### Author:  [@RobertBunge](https://forum.secondrenaissance.net/u/RobertBunge)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.secondrenaissance.net/t/life-itself-research-circle-collective-pattern-adopted/782/2 "2026-06-27T15:44:14Z")
Let me just add that I am currently reading Habermas on the evolution of the notion of “law” in Western philosophy (currently up to the chapter on John Locke …). From that sort of study, I am acutely aware of the many different possible interpretations of rules, constitutions, founding documents, etc. Although in practice I am very much an organizational wonk and can debate subsections, addenda, and glosses in excruciating detail, my larger sense of order, structure, and justice flows more through the heart. I would therefore very much welcome any leaps of intuition from readers here on what a desirable Second Renaissance research process might be!