CENTURI PhD/Postdoc Retreat 2025

Debating Session - Topics election

During the 2025 PhD & Postdocs retreat, a debating session will be held. 

Participants have been ask to propose debating topics. Given the limited time, not all of them will be debated. 

This vote is for choosing the final 6 topics to be debated only! During the retreat a draw will be held to randomly assigne topics and groups.

Here's the list of topics submitted:

• Could artificial intelligence ever achieve biological consciousness?
• Should only scientists or all citizens decide on how money is invested in scientific research?
• Would using LLM, like Chat GPT, all the time cause us to lose our ability to independently write, code or create?
• Should we ban eating meat to fight global warming?
• Should space exploration be a priority for humanity?
• Should zoos continue to exist?
• Is reductionism still the best approach in studying complex biological systems?
• Could we accurately model biological systems using physics-based principles alone?
• Is setting quotas for under represented minorities an effective way to improve their representation in science?
• Is climate engineering the most pressing discipline to invest resources?
• Should we ever bring back extinct species?
• Should we limit the use of very large AI models due their high consumption of environmental resources?
• Should we promote the cultivation and consumption of GMO crops ?
• Does the fascination of children for extinct dinosaurs, unicorns, and other non-living animals reduce their interest for real living animals ?
• Should AI be open source ?
• Should we replace disposable items in the lab in favor of reusable ones?
• Is population aging a threat for democracy?

Please, rank your favorite topics from 1 to 4 in the following form. The topics with the more votes will be selected and debated. 

Thank you!