International Public Policy Forum 2011-12 (Go to NYC, Win Big Money)

Founded in 2001, the IPPF is the only competition that gives high school students across the globe the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. This international contest is open to all schools - public and private - for free. Teams compete for National Forensic League points and more than $50,000 in awards and scholarships. In addition, the top eight teams win all-expenses-paid trips to New York City April 13-15, 2012! Registration is now open. Take on the challenge. Register today! www.bickelbrewer.com/ippf

2011-12 IPPF Topic Resolved: Human missions should be a significant focus of space exploration. The 2011-2012 International Public Policy Forum resolution calls for debates regarding the value of human space exploration and requires participants to focus exclusively on "why" humans should or should not be a significant part of exploration efforts.  For the purposes of this resolution, "space exploration" refers to space beyond Earth's mesosphere.  Both teams may use past or present policy examples in the defense of their arguments, but neither side may propose policy alternatives.

How To Participate The Korean Minjok Leadership Academy competes in the 2010-11 Finals in New York. All teams should register on the IPPF website by October 12, 2011. After your team has registered, prepare a qualifying round essay on the 2011-12 IPPF topic. Essays are limited to 2,800 words and may be written from an affirmative or negative perspective. Essays must be submitted by 2 p.m. CST on October 26, 2011, to ippf@bickelbrewer.com. Entries will be reviewed by the IPPF Essay Review Committee. On November 9, 2011, the Top 32 teams will be announced. These teams begin a single-elimination, written debate tournament, with one school affirming the resolution and the other negating it. Judges blindly review the essays in the order they were written and select the advancing team. This process continues until the final eight teams emerge. The "Elite 8" earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, April 13-15, 2012. In New York, teams compete in oral debates in front of a panel of judges that includes professionals in law, business, politics, debate and academia. The IPPF Champion is awarded a $10,000 grand prize and the Bickel & Brewer Cup!