Learn & Connect

Education Programmes

The Institute offers scaffolded courses, collaborative textbook groups, and hands-on internship and fellowship programmes designed for all backgrounds, time zones, and levels of familiarity.

Courses

Structured learning programmes developed and facilitated by the Institute. Recorded iterations are available asynchronously for self-paced learning.

Active Inference for the Social Sciences

A twelve-session syllabus introducing the framework's relevance to societal structures — how cognitive agents construct shared world-models through perceptions, epistemic actions, and cultural norms.

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Physics as Information Processing

An accessible pathway linking the thermodynamic fundamentals of the Free Energy Principle to computational structures and predictive processing.

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See all courses at activeinference.org/courses.

Textbook Groups

The Institute organises recurring, collaborative reading groups around the two core textbooks. Over 7 cohorts have completed the cycle. Register for the next cohort →

Active Inference: The Free Energy Principle in Mind, Brain, and Behavior

Thomas Parr, Giovanni Pezzulo & Karl Friston · MIT Press, 2022

The foundational textbook presenting the mathematical and conceptual framework for Active Inference. Participants engage in peer-to-peer discussion, unpack complex mathematical formulae, and contextualise biological case studies.

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Fundamentals of Active Inference textbook cover

Fundamentals of Active Inference: Principles, Algorithms, and Applications of the Free Energy Principle for Engineers

Sanjeev V. Namjoshi · MIT Press, 2025 · ISBN 9780262050951

An engineering-focused companion developed in collaboration with the Institute since 2023, endorsed by Karl Friston. The 12 interactive simulations in this website accompany this textbook, providing hands-on exploration of core concepts.

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Internships & Fellowships

Hands-on involvement for participants at all career stages — from students to established researchers.

Internship Programme

Open to all backgrounds — philosophers, developers, educators, and organisers. Interns gain direct mentorship, access to digital infrastructure, and the opportunity to co-author ecosystem resources.

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Research Fellowships

Self-directed projects with facilities, resources, mentorship, and open-science support. Launched in 2024 for researchers exploring Active Inference across disciplines.

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