Quick take
A Bay Area-built interactive theme camp called the Cognitive Research Institute is recruiting volunteers to play lab-coat-wearing researchers at Burning Man 2026. It’s a staged “research facility” where strangers fill out fake paperwork, interact with costumed staff, and walk away unsure what just happened — intentionally surreal, social, and performative.
What they’re building
The organizers say they’ll be a 20-person camp that comes fully pre-built so the week in Black Rock City is about running the project, not assembling it. Key details from the original Reddit post:
– 20 people total, mostly Bay Area.
– Pre-built infrastructure: shade structures, communal kitchen, solar power (100%), water and gray-water pump out.
– Interactive experience: official-looking paperwork, assessments by people in lab coats, and a “machine that destroys memories” (theatrical, not a real device).
Why people are talking
The concept landed on r/burningman and sparked a mix of enthusiasm and eyebrow-raising in the comments. Some responses:
– “I want to be a lab rat!” — a classic burner reaction.
– Suggestions included doing a Scientology-style personality test vibe (tongue-in-cheek) and references to more serious social experiments like Milgram’s obedience study — a reminder that staged authority can feel real.
A few practical notes and context
This is interactive art/play, not actual science. Burning Man culture values consent and radical inclusion; most theme camps that involve role-play build in clear boundaries so participation is fun and safe for everyone. If you’re curious but cautious, ask the organizers about how they handle consent, opt-outs, and unexpected emotional reactions.
How to join
Interested volunteers can learn more or reach out via the camp’s site: http://cognitiveresearch.institute (link from the original post).
Source
This story was adapted from a Reddit thread on r/burningman (posted by user fearless_dp). If you’re part of a creative theme camp or want coverage, DM the Extra Chill Festival Wire and we’ll share the word.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1r9oymx/looking_for_people_to_wear_lab_coats_and_make/