Calling all undergrads and grad students!

The NASA Astrobiology Debates Online Speech Competition (University Division) is an online speech competition in which U.S. college and university undergraduate and graduate students from across the nation will research, deliver, and upload original speeches responding to 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.

Submissions will be judged based on the quality of scholarship and arguments, originality and creativity, and presentation. The competition is now OPEN and students may submit their speeches at anytime before November 30, 2015, by clicking here.

The winner will join champions from the other 2015-16 NASA Astrobiology Debates competitions on a special Study Tour to a NASA Center where they will have an opportunity to continue firsthand their exploration of astrobiology and the 2015-16 Debates Topic. Study Tour participants will take part in behind-the-scenes tours of laboratories, spacecraft clean rooms, mission operations, and/or launch facilities, as well as meet with NASA scientists and engineers. Locations and dates are TBD at this time, and all travel costs will be covered. In addition, the top three entries will be recognized on and have their submissions posted to the Debate and NASA Astrobiology websites.

For more information, visit the NASA Astrobiology Debates Online Speech Competition website.