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On March 5-6, the NASA Astrobiology Debates Eastern Championship was held at The George Washington University. The recordings of the debates are now posted.

What are the NASA Astrobiology Debates?

Organized by the NASA Astrobiology Program and The George Washington University, the NASA Astrobiology Debates challenge students of all ages to research and debate the complex ethical and political questions raised by the 2015-16 NASA Astrobiology Debates topic, “Resolved: An overriding ethical obligation to protect and preserve extraterrestrial microbial life and ecosystems should be incorporated into international law.”

The discovery of extraterrestrial microbial life would change the nature and meaning of life itself. The NASA Astrobiology Debates engaged present and future leaders in dialogue on the implications of such a discovery. During the 2015-16 school year, students competed in online speech competitions, public debates, and tournament competitions judged by a cross-section of thought-leaders.