Debate is a powerful tool for raising awareness of ethical questions. We used debate for this purpose by doing a demonstration debate on the resolution "This House Supports the Development of Artificially Engineered Life" at Old Scona Academic High School, for an audience of about 80 students.

Style: This debate was an abbreviated format similar to Canadian Parliamentary Style. Each speaker is expected to take one or two questions from the other speaker during each speech.

Both speakers have debated at tournaments across Western Canada and debate or judged at the National Debate Championships.

Proposition speaker: a University of Alberta Debate Society member, studying Arts.

Opposition speaker: an iGEM team member and University of Alberta Debate Society member, studying Molecular Genetics.

Listen to the Debate

Note: The debaters periodically say 'no thank you' as they are speaking - this is to decline a question offered by the other debater. Also note that the high school orchestra was practicing next door; please ignore the music in the background.