November 6 – 8
Seattle, WA
Policy Debate
Deadline: Oct 30th, 2025
SEDS is excited to introduce our first-ever student-led policy debate for SpaceVision 2025. Students will debate the resolution, “Resolved: asteroid mining and lunar resource extraction should be driven by the free market.” The discussion will include four student-led keynotes either affirming or negating the resolution, 20 minutes of open discussion, and a closing vote to affirm or negate the resolution. Any student interested in this topic is encouraged to apply as a keynote speaker, regardless of debate experience. Applications will be released in late May, and will close in late October. No application is necessary to participate in the open discussion and vote on the resolution–we encourage all interested SEDS students to attend, participate, and share their perspective!
Who Can Apply?
Judges:
Coming soon.
Structure:
1 hour total
- Opening – 5 minutes to explain structure of debate (House rules, timing, closing vote) and how speeches should be structured. (Additional time if participants haven’t debated before)
Keynotes – 12 minutes in alternating 3 min blocks of keynote affirmation and then keynote negation.
Questions – 9 minutes for six questions, each to be directed to a specific keynoter. Each answer has a maximum of 90 seconds.
Open Discussion – 2 minutes max for speeches (10 speeches, 20 minutes). Participants will be randomly called upon.
Closing – 10 minutes for closing thoughts and Voting.
Benefits:
Test your debate skills and gain insight into the policy behind in-space mining and extraction.
Join us November 6th-8th, 2025 for your chance to grow your debate skills, build your network, and create career defining opportunities for yourself and your chapter.