Hi, I'm Emily Gillcrist, an interdiciplinary and cross-industry researcher, cultural strategist, and the founder of Vital Thought.
I research, manage, build, and consult.

I specialize in technocriticism, cultural change, ontology, phenomenology, psychology, geopolitics, and sustainability.  I am happy to work with start ups, small businesses, new organizations, as well as special projects and experimental projects. Reach me at info@vitlathought.org

Founding: Vital Thought is an education and consulting organization that provides humanities and social science insight from PhD trained experts in real time. We specialize in contemporary theory, cultural change, and tech ethics. Learn why academia is buckling and why we now need engaged critical insight discourse more than ever by listening to my interview on the Digital Void podcast with digital culture experts Jamie Cohen and Josh Chapdelaine, and my recent feature in ZINE by Reddit’s Head of Global Foresight, Matt Klein.

Writing:
I led the completion of seven reports for the Digital Cognition and Democracy Initiative at the Institute for Security and Technology. I also contributed to the 2023 Tech & Democracy report from All Tech Is Human.
My PhD work in Cultural Analysis & Theory examines the ontology, geopolitics, and psychology of technoindustrial power, economics, and the climate crisis, particularly in relation to the historical and contemporary perception and construction of objects, value, and civilization.

Research:
I derive insights from 15 years of interdiciplinary and cross-industry research. I focus particularly on: cultural change, science & technology studies, cognitive science, sustainability, consciousness studies, existential phenomenology, and psychoanalytic deconstruction; economics, ecological & landscape management, higher education, the responsible tech industry, art & design, activism and social movements, market trends, the startup industry, alt economies, media, material and experiential culture and subculture on and off the internet.

Consulting: Sustainable Urbanism & Small Business
I'm currently consulting on brand and growth strategy, and helping to build a more beautiful and sustainable community with the Master Gardener behind Green Bey Gardens NYC.
I provide insight for special research initiatives, small organization growth, experiential analysis, and creative and cultural strategy. I would love to chat. Schedule a meeting with me at [email protected].