It’s just over a week until the Debating Matters Competition 2011/12 National Final, taking place 29 June to 1 July at the Wellcome Collection.

The eight schools who’ve won their place at the National Final are no doubt preparing, planning, arguing and thinking about the debates ahead of them, including motions on drugs in sport, the implications of neuroscience for criminal responsibility and proposals for a minimum alcohol pricing policy. During the course of the weekend the student debaters will be challenged and put under pressure by distinguished guest judges from the media, industry, poltics and science including seasoned journalist and broadcaster, Justin Webb of Radio 4’s Today Programme; businessman and Executive Vice President of Statoil, John Knight; and Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Clare Gerada amongst many others.

In addition to the seven debates being held over the course of the weekend, Debating Matters is also staging a series of events for the students and schools attending. On Friday 29 June the competing teams will have the opportunity to take part in a series of Expert Witness Semniars, bringing together experts in the areas they will be debating, including Ian Chamberlain, writer, human rights campaigner and activist in the Occupy London Stock Exchange movement, and Dr Norman Lewis, an expert in the field of crowdsourced innovation at PwC, arguing about the role of social media in rejuvenating political protest. There will also be a debate about the implications of the Leveson Inquiry for a free press with: Brendan O’Neill, editor of the online journal spiked; Thais Portilho-Shrimpton, Hacked Off Campaign co-ordinator; and Ray Snoddy, presenter of BBC’s NewsWatch - see the National Final programme for full details.

Students will also been given exclusive tours of the Wellcome Collection’s two permananet exhibitions, ‘Medicine Man’, Henry Wellcome’s collection of curios and ‘Medicine Now’, science, art and personal perspectives. 

On Saturday 30 June Claire Fox, director of the Institute of Ideas, will chair a BBC-style ‘Question Time’ panel, giving the Debating Matters audience the opportunity to pose questions about contemporary social and political issues. The panellists include: Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice; Alex Deane, Head of Public Affairs at Weber Shandwick and Founding Director of Big Brother Watch; and journalist and Labour Councillor, Sally Gimson.

FURTHER HELP

The National Final is open to the public and guests, school supporters and family and friends are very welcome to attend on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July. However, there is limited seating capacity so if you would like to attend any part of the Debating Matters National Final please RSVP by email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to reserve your place, or call 0207 269 9230.