Seán O'Callaghan, Ireland, Participant 2009
Every year the LIYSF selects a few students to participate in a debate session. In my participant year I was lucky enough to take part.
Our topic was the controversy surrounding GM crops and whether or not it was appropriate for scientists to use advents of modern technology to interfere-for good or for bad-with biological processes usually controlled by evolution. Ultimately, it falls down to the question of just because we have the capability to do something, does that mean we have the right to do so?
An extra layer of excitement was brought to the debate by virtue of the fact that we gave our arguments for and against the topic and then the debate was opened to the whole room. Two opinions can be interesting-three hundred and fifty of them gets exciting! And that was just one topic. The best part is that you get to hear how topics affect people in places you might never consider and how important it can really be. And you don't have to look as silly as I did standing in front of everyone-that choice is up to you!
There is so much you should be excited about at LIYSF and the participant's debate is just one of them.
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