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  • Assuming the Dreamscape exists, This House Would permit the selling of experiences

    Infoslide

    The Dreamscape is an innovative new technology that allows the transfer of experiences from one person to another. For the purposes of this debate, experiences include both the visual and emotional aspects of the memory.

    Dulwich Schools 2025 · Silver Final · 2025-09-28

  • This house supports the privatization of outer space in the US

    Infoslide

    Recently, the Trump administration has signed several executive orders intended to significantly increase the role of private firms (eg. SpaceX, BlueOrigin) in outer space, including streamlining launch permit approval processes, diverting NASA funding towards supporting private space infrastructure, and reducing regulations on private space companies.

    UCLA IV 2025 · Quarterfinals · 2025-09-27

  • This house, as the parent, would plug their child into the experience machine

    Infoslide

    You are a low-income worker in a developed country. Your partner has died giving birth to your first child, who is born with a chronic but non-life- threatening disease. Doctors offer you the option of the “Experience Machine,” which flawlessly simulates a slightly above-average Canadian life for whoever is plugged in. It can only be used within 24 hours of birth; once inside, the person cannot return without dying. The machine is experimental but extremely safe, and researchers are a single human trial away from being able to safely simulate any experience for any age. So far, finding subjects has been extremely difficult.

    McGill Central Canadian Novice Championship 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-09-27

  • This house believes that it is in the interest of the US to significantly repeal its restrictions on semiconductor chips

    Infoslide

    In 2022, the Biden administration announced sweeping restrictions on semiconductor chips, including export controls, restrictions on hiring, and on research collaboration.

    IIUM KUANTAN ABP · Quarterfinals · 2025-09-12

  • This house predicts that the 'AI bubble' will crash within the next 5 years.

    Infoslide

    An economic bubble happens when prices go way higher than the thing is actually worth. For example, during the dot-com bubble, early internet companies got huge hype and lots of money. Today, some people think the same might be happening with AI companies. A crash happens when people realize the prices don’t make sense anymore. They lose confidence, prices fall fast, and everyone tries to sell at the same time.

    Beijing International Schools Debating Championship 2025 · Round 5 · 2025-09-05

  • This house supports the international seabed authority expediting the finalization of deep sea mining rules

    Infoslide

    The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an intergovernmental body established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond national jurisdictions. It is partially funded by mining revenue. The international seabed area contains valuable minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and rare earth metals essential for renewable energy technologies. Current mining activity largely prevented by lack of regulatory structure, making mining de facto illegal in many places. The ISA is negotiating a Mining Code to set environmental safeguards, revenue-sharing mechanisms, and rules for partnerships between states and mining companies. The United States has not ratified UNCLOS and is not a party to the ISA. The International Seabed Authority (ISA)'s rules for deep-sea mining include provisions for the equitable sharing of benefits, with a focus on developing countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS). However, the core exploitation regulations, which would outline the specific partnering and benefit-sharing mechanisms, have not yet been finalized, despite the ISA's mandate and the expiration of a two-year deadline in 2023 to finalize them.

    Connections IV 2025 · Round 3 · 2025-08-30

  • This house regrets the rise of private deep tech research and development

    Infoslide

    "Deep tech" refers to cutting-edge technology that aims to solve large-scale global problems through scientific and engineering breakthroughs. These often utilize highly sophisticated innovations and require substantially long research and investments. Examples includes SpaceX for reusable orbital-class rockets, Nanosys Inc. on molecular nanotechnology, PsiQuantum for quantum computing and Terradot for geoengineering.

    Baguio Detour 2025 · Round 4 · 2025-08-30

  • In the pursuit of scientific knowledge, This house would continue the development of Dual-use research of concern (DURC) in biotechnology

    Infoslide

    Dual-use research of concern (DURC) describes research that is intended to provide a clear benefit, but which could easily be misapplied to do harm. This may include the creation of modified viruses to better understand how they function which may risk the use of them to infect animals and people, or the development of aerosol methods to help treat asthma which may be used to improve biological weapons like anthrax, etc.

    VDC Contentions 2025 (English) · Round 4 · 2025-08-28