Earth’s population has reached a new high of 7.6 billion, and that number is projected to be 10 billion by the year 2050. At the same time, our resources are finite while our consumption is growing exponentially from countries that are industrializing such as Malaysia and Brazil. Key elements needed for manufacturing could be exhausted within 50-60 years. 

 

Thus, the Council will focus primarily on the possible solutions to this resource crisis that threatens the globe, discussing the issue from multiple angles. For the students, the Council debate operates around a hypothetical setting 100 years into the future, and will revolve around the merits of ‘asteroid mining’ by both government organisations and private companies, and how to protect Malaysian interests should the proposal be put into the practice.

 

The Council will also consider the merits of other, more direct solutions in resolving the crisis from a scientific perspective – introducing sustainable practices, using alternative resources, implementing new ways of processing raw materials etc. – through the Academic Talk and Symposium by our invitational speaker. This ensures that the topic is given a wider coverage from different areas in the scientific field, and our students are better equipped with the scientific awareness required to tackle this very real threat in the 21st century.