Category: Annoucements

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Fall 2026 TKEthics Events: Invitationals, an Arizona In-Person Regional, Case Writing, and AI Debates

Dear Ethics Bowl community,

As the fall season gets going, the Modus Ponens Institute and TKEthics have a full slate of events open to teams everywhere, and as always, our format is almost identical to Ethics Bowl: the same style of case, the same collaborative-dialogue scoring, the same emphasis on reasoning over point-scoring. Teams that prep for NHSEB will feel right at home.

TKEthics Fall Invitational, Saturday, November 7 (online)
Our flagship online event. Teams of 3 to 5 discuss six real-world tech-and-ethics cases across four judged rounds, with feedback after each. $225 per team, or $180 with the early bird through September 7. Qualifier for the TKEthics International Grand Final. Invitation and details

Arizona In-Person Regional, Saturday, October 10 (Chandler, AZ)
Our first in-person tournament in the Southwest, at Arizona College Prep in Chandler. A full day of ethics-bowl-style dialogue for teams who can attend in person. Marc Sanders Foundation scholarships available. Registration closes September 10. Invitation and details

Middle School Pan Atlantic Ethics Olympiad, Saturday, November 14 (online)
For teams of 11-to-14-year-olds. Same format, age-appropriate cases, an official qualifier toward the international middle school circuit. Register

Marc Sanders Case Writing Prize, deadline September 30
Free to enter. High school students submit an original case at the intersection of technology and ethics. $1,500 in prizes: $1,000 to winning schools, $500 to student authors, and winning cases feature in the Fall Invitational case set, so your students can write a case the whole field then discusses. Marc Sanders Case Writing Prize

Global AI Debates, Fall 2026
Our speech-and-debate program on the ethics and governance of AI, judged by professionals from MIT, OpenAI, and UC Berkeley. Submissions due November 14, live finals December 5, $3,500 prize pool. globalaidebates.com

All our case sets are freely available at our case sets page, and coaches are welcome to use them as classroom or scrimmage material whether or not your teams compete. Questions or interest, reach me any time at astapleton@modusponensinstitute.com.

Kind regards,
Archie Stapleton
Co-founder, Director: Modus Ponens Institute
Outreach Director: TKEthics.org
Phone #: 857-320-1778

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Free Zoom-based Ethics Bowl Workshop July 24-25

The below invitation to the Ethics Bowl community was shared by IEB chair Michael Jordan yesterday. I attended and enjoyed last summer’s workshop, and just registered to attend this summer’s late July – will be presenting that Saturday at 4:30 Eastern, in fact – hope to see you there! Matt

We’re excited to once again host the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Summer Workshop on July 24–25. This free, online event is a valuable opportunity for the Ethics Bowl community to come together, share ideas, and build connections. The workshop is designed to be welcoming and useful to both newcomers and long-time participants—whether you’re a coach, organizer, moderator, judge, or student competitor.

Sessions will cover a range of topics relevant to all aspects of the Ethics Bowl, including best practices for coaching, using the ethics bowl in the classroom, organizing a bowl, training judges, case writing, high school ethics bowl, case writing and much more. It’s also a great forum for sharing questions, challenges, and success stories from across the country.

Please share this with the teams, faculty, and volunteers in your region, including students, so that anyone interested in learning more about Ethics Bowl can take part. You can register for the workshop here. 

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Remembering Ethics Bowl’s Creator, Bob Ladenson

I’m sorry to share that on May 3rd, Ethics Bowl’s original creator and IEB founder, Dr. Robert Ladenson, passed away at the age of 82. Bob was the epitome of a gentleman scholar, a mentor to many and friend to all. And Ethics Bowl simply would not exist but for his courage and dedication.

Bob had progressively stepped away from direct leadership roles, trusting the next generation to realize his vision and take Ethics Bowl to new heights. But his presence was always felt – his unmistakably charitable and humble character implicit in Ethics Bowl’s rules and culture. For several years IEB and NHSEB have awarded, by peer vote, the Bob Ladenson Spirit of the Ethics Bowl Award, given to the nationals team best embodying:

(1) Respect, civility, and courtesy for others, both during the rounds and informal discussion;

(2) Thoughtfulness, in terms of expressing their positions and commenting on other teams’ presentation; and

(3) Sportsmanship, in terms of valuing collaboration above competition.

These are the core virtues Ethics Bowl strives to foster, and Bob lived them like few others.

Bob’s presence will continue to be felt by those who knew him, and his humble, mindful demeanor will continue to shape Ethics Bowlers around the world for years to come. He’s survived by loving wife of 42 years and Ethics Bowl legend in her own right, Joanne, as well as a brother, two daughters, and four grandchildren. Click here to read his full obituary and leave a note of remembrance.

With the Ladensons in Chicago in 2018 – they generously invited me to stay with them while in town for the annual APPE conference – RIP, Bob!
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South Carolina HSEB Champs Win 2026 NHSEB

Photo courtesy Meg Hasten, CCES Director of Strategic Marketing and Communication

Super congrats to Coach Jason Smith and his talented team from Christ Church Episcopal School of Greenville, South Carolina on winning the 2026 National High School Ethics Bowl at UNC. Coach Smith said of his team, “They proved themselves to be exactly the sorts of global citizens that our world needs right now – decisive and principled, but always seeking to honor the dignity of every human being through their compassion and understanding.”

Three cheers for team members Isabella Agnew ’27, Celina Brotherton ’27, Jerry Gan ’27, Jonathan Thompson ’27 and Max Delfino ’29, as well as alternates Owen Gregory ’26, Wrigley Valle ’26, Amanda de Leon ’26, and Fin Adams-Riley ’28.

Ethics Bowl of course isn’t about winning. But it’s the events that push teams to put in the work to grow, and this group’s recognition is definitely well-deserved. Enjoy!

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What Is Patriotism Journal Opportunity for High Schoolers

Questions is a peer reviewed philosophy journal run by P.L.A.T.O. and the Philosophy Documentation Center that publishes research-length articles by high schoolers. They’re accepting submissions for an upcoming issue through April 30th  and the theme this year is “What is Patriotism?”

Given America’s domestic unrest and war in Iran, it’s is an especially important time to consider the nature and value of patriotism. And who better to think carefully about that than young philosophers?

Learn more about Questions here and check out submission details below and here – thanks to Ethics Bowl supporter Andrew Liu for sharing the opportunity.

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Ethics Bowl Team Honored on U.S. House Floor

Super congrats to Georgia Southern’s IEB team and team president Cade Huff for their recent successes and the recognition they received from Rep. Buddy Carter on the U.S. House floor. Given that part of the point of Ethics Bowl is to elevate democratic norms, it’s especially encouraging to see it discussed in one of the places we need it most. Ethics Bowlers: consider sharing the good news about your teams and programs with your elected officials. The more they know about what the community is doing, the more pressure they’ll feel to work together to seek principled solutions.

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Celebrating the 13th Michigan HSEB

For the fifth time in Michigan High School Ethics Bowl history, Ann Arbor Greenhills School secured first place, The Hemlock Cup, and title of Michigan Champs. Second place was won for the first time by Academy of the Sacred Heart, who in Bowl tradition is the guardian of the Keeper of Philosophy Flame trophy.

In addition to the tradition of recognizing seniors, this year we saluted three Bowl coach/teacher advisors all of whom are ending their Bowl tenure and moving on to their next adventure. All have had a vital role in building and establishing the Michigan Bowl from the beginning: Brent Richards from Ann Arbor Pioneer; Mark Randolph from Ann Arbor Greenhills; and Katie Jones from Ann Arbor Huron.

All three teachers can boast Michigan championships. Yet on Bowl weekend, the open-mindedness, care and curiosity, intelligence, integrity and influence of each of these lovely human beings were highlighted by current team members and alumni. Student reflections, memories and stories of gratitude were in the air everywhere, making the 2026 Bowl an acknowledgment of the enduring power of teachers who discover the singular abilities and promise of all young people.

A2Ethics volunteers join students in acknowledging their teachers’ generosity, daring, resilience and–their sense of fun and good humor. Indeed, we think their school nicknames reflect collectively a few of their best attributes: they are Pioneers in helping to start the Michigan Bowl. They are Gryphons (Greenhills) whose mythical reputation embraces wisdom and loyalty. And they are (Huron) River Rats in its meaning as those who live along rivers—and have the traits of self-reliance, an indomitable spirit—and they appreciate quick drying shorts!

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Interview with Ava Richesin-Dodd, Producer of The Bowl

Last month, we interviewed Eli Yetter-Bowman, director of the new Ethics Bowl film, The Bowl. Following a team of young women from North Carolina to NHSEB nationals at UNC, the film is an excellent recruitment tool for new participants, as well as a fun way to affirm the value and benefits of Ethics Bowl. In this follow-up interview, we talk to Ava Richesin-Dodd, producer at Ethereal Films.

Where have you held screenings so far, and how is the film being received? 

This past September, the film premiered during the opening night at the BEYOND Cary Film Festival. This was a surreal experience for everyone, especially the students, as this was their first time watching the completed version. The film was shot in the spring of 2023, so all of the students are now in college. Personally, I would be mortified to watch a documentary about me in high school, but all the girls are so brilliant and articulate that everyone who watched the film left impressed by their skills and moved by the program. One audience member even came up to the team afterwards and expressed how, after a hard week, watching the film really lifted their spirits. Since the premiere, various institutions have purchased a license and held internal screenings across the country. The feedback has been positive across the board. I think this story represents hope and optimism, which many people are looking for right now. 

Where and when can folks see the film? Have details clarified on when it will air on PBS? 

As of right now, there’s no set date for when the film will be released on PBS. We know it will be sometime this fall, though. In the meantime, students and educators can request an educational license through their school’s acquisition librarian. Their librarian can then order the film at this link. The film can be ordered for a one-time screening event or a lifetime license for Ethics Bowl recruiting and/or teaching. Additionally, every order will include an event-planning and classroom guide. 

What’s been most memorable, surprising, or cool for you since The Bowl came out?

This entire project has been memorable and cool. I am so proud and lucky to have worked on this. This was notably the first documentary in which I played a leading role in editing and producing. When our director, Eli, first told me about it, I was immediately hooked, not only because I’d never heard of Ethics Bowl before, but also because the team we followed was all young women. The more I dove into the footage, the more in awe I became with the team and the clear benefits Ethics Bowl had for these students. The Ethics Bowl gave these girls the time, space, and agency to parse out difficult yet relevant issues. In watching them develop their cases and opinions, I also saw them develop confidence and trust in themselves and each other. 

It’s worth mentioning that I was mostly absent for the film’s shooting, so I primarily saw and, in some sense, got to know these students by watching and editing over 30 hours of footage of them. I had almost developed a parasocial relationship with the team, so when the film finally premiered, it was a bit of a shock to see these girls in person and how much they had grown over the years. Conversely, for them, it was a bit strange to meet and talk with someone who had spent so much time watching raw footage of them in high school. (Again, I’d be mortified). 

That said, it was important to me that the students felt they were portrayed in a way they could look back on with pride, rather than embarrassment. One of the girls, Cristina, came up to me afterwards and affirmed this for me. That is, by far, the most special thing that has happened to me since the film came out. 

Anything else you’d like to share with EthicsBowl.org readers at this point?

Working on this film has left me deeply wishing this program had been available to me when I was in school. I genuinely think that if I had watched The Bowl as a student, I would’ve been inspired to join Ethics Bowl, or at least to try to get involved in more philosophy classes where democratic deliberation was taught and nurtured. If you’re an educator or student who is interested in showing this film, please request a copy from your library! Even if you’re not involved with Ethics Bowl, please share with any colleagues who you think would be interested. We want this film to be as accessible as possible! 

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Ethics Bowl to the Rescue Interview with Dr. Sahar Joakim

I was recently invited to talk a bit about Ethics Bowl to the Rescue with YouTuber and St. Louis Community College associate professor of philosophy, Dr. Sahar Joakim. My first interview on the book, Professor Joakim was a wonderfully kind and insightful host. And at 26 minutes, it’s a great chance to get an overview of what Ethics Bowl is and its potential for revitalizing deliberative democracy during your next workout or commute (if you’ll be driving, listen, but don’t watch…). Thank you, Dr. Joakim!

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High School European Ethics Olympiad Invitation

For high school Ethics Bowl teams not ready for the season to end, our friends with TKEthics are hosting an online event on March 19th. While it’s billed as the Senior European Ethics Olympiad, teams of 14 to 18-year-olds from anywhere in the world are invited. However, one complication is that CET = Central European Time, which is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, meaning it’ll run from 3:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. EST! But it least it’s via Zoom, and at least it’s on the same calendar day – participating in Australian Ethics Olympiads sometimes means confirming not only the correct time, but the correct day. But from my experience, the chance to do Ethics Bowl (Ethics Olympiad is essentially the same as Ethics Bowl) with smart, compassionate folks in other countries is well worth the lost sleep.

** There’s also a TKEthics Spring Invitational on February 28th with better hours. Not exactly the same as Ethics Bowl/Olympiad, but related – check it out here.

The best of luck to all who participate! Good coffee recommended. And thanks to Archie and Davida for sharing!