BioMonsters Debates

Objective

The BioMonsters Debates challenge students to apply bioengineering concepts and creativity to design fictive creatures — BioMonsters — that address environmental challenges. Teams will present and defend their designs in structured debates to demonstrate scientific understanding, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Team Composition

• Size: Each team must consist of 2-4 members.

• Name: Teams must choose a debate-appropriate name. If a name is not chosen, one will be assigned by the organizers. Names must not include harmful, political, or religious elements.

• Representation: Teams can represent schools, clubs, or independent groups of interested students.

• Participation Limit: Each student may only participate in one team per debate round to ensure fairness and equal opportunities.

Debate Format

The debate will consist of two phases:

• Presentation Phase: Teams will introduce their BioMonster designs and explain the scientific logic behind them.

• Debate Phase: Teams will engage in structured debates, defending their designs and critically evaluating others’ concepts.

Design Guidelines

• Originality: Each team must design a unique BioMonster that addresses a specific environmental challenge aligned with the current debate theme. Arbitrary challenges will not be accepted.

• Eligibility: The debates are open exclusively to high school students, as defined by their educational system.

• Scientific Foundation: The BioMonster must be grounded in sound biological and bioengineering principles.

• Environmental Impact: Teams must demonstrate how their BioMonster interacts with the environment and provides a solution to the challenge outlined in the theme.

Judging Criteria

Presentation (50% of Total Score)

• Scientific Depth: Quality and accuracy of the biological and environmental principles underpinning the BioMonster.

• Creativity: Originality and innovative aspects of the BioMonster design.

• Practical Application: Effectiveness of the BioMonster in addressing the specified environmental issue.

• Presentation Skills: Clarity, structure, engagement, and effective use of visual aids.

Debate (50% of Total Score)

• Defense of BioMonster: Strength of the scientific defense and rationale presented for the design.

• Rebuttals: Effectiveness in challenging and responding to opposing arguments.

• Communication: Clarity, logic, and persuasiveness of verbal responses during debate.

How to Design Your BioMonster

• For guidance on designing your BioMonster, covering scientific basis, structure, and presentation format, please refer to the Design Your BioMonster Guidelines.

• This guide applies across all BioMonsters activities and should be followed regardless of the debate theme.

Submission Requirements

• Teams must submit their project digitally ahead of the debate, following the specific timeline set for each event. Submissions must include a brief description of their BioMonster and its purpose.

• Teams are required to provide visual aids (e.g., posters, digital presentations, models) during their presentation.

Debate Format

Teams will be paired against each other for debates.

The debate format will include:

• Opening Defense (5 minutes per team)

• Rebuttals (3 minutes per team)

• Final Defense (2 minutes per team)

Awards

• Grand Prize: A single prize will be awarded to the team with the highest overall score, based on their performance in the BioMonsters Debate.

• Cumulative Scoring: The winning team will be determined by their cumulative score, calculated using the debate judging criteria.

• Participation Certificates: All participants will receive a certificate of participation, recognizing their efforts and contributions to the debate.

• Recognition for Winners: The winning team’s BioMonster concept will be showcased on our website and social media platforms, highlighting their achievement and communication skills.

Ethics and Integrity

• Teams must ensure that their BioMonster designs are their original work.

• Use of publicly available information and scientific concepts is permitted, but direct copying or plagiarism is prohibited.

• Any external assistance must be disclosed during the presentation.

Schedule

• The debate event schedule will be determined by the organizing team and communicated in advance.

• Presentations will be followed by debate rounds.

• Judges will evaluate scores after all debates, and winners will be announced accordingly.