Marc Sanders Foundation Case Prize

ABOUT THE PRIZE

The Marc Sanders Foundation Case Prize

 

The Marc Sanders Foundation Case Prize awards outstanding student-written ethics cases exploring the intersection of technology and ethics. Winning submissions may be included in the TKEthics Invitational case set. Cases are evaluated on ethical depth, clarity of framing, real-world relevance, and the quality of discussion questions. You may submit more than one case per entry.

 

Key Dates

 

• Status: Closed (80+ entries received)

• Submission deadline: October 1, 2026

• Winners announced: October 7, 2026

Thanks for all your amazing submissions! Winners are announced 7 October, and the winning cases will be the final two cases of the TKEthics Fall Invitational case set. Next Case Writing Competition details to be released soon!

 

 

CASE THEMES

What Should Your Case Be About?

 

TKEthics cases live at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and ethics. Here are the thematic areas we're most interested in, though strong cases may span more than one:

 

🤖 AI Autonomy & Decision-Making

 

When should AI systems make consequential decisions, and who is accountable when they go wrong?

 

🔍 Surveillance & Privacy

 

Facial recognition, predictive policing, data harvesting: where do we draw the line?

 

🧬 Biotechnology & Enhancement

 

Gene editing, cognitive enhancement, and the ethics of improving human biology.

 

📱 Social Media & Manipulation

 

Algorithmic amplification, misinformation, and the duty of platforms to their users.

 

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias & Justice

 

AI in hiring, lending, and criminal justice: does automation entrench or remedy inequality?

 

🌐 Digital Access & Global Equity

 

Who benefits from AI-driven progress, and who is left behind?

 

🎨 AI & Creativity

 

Authorship, intellectual property, and the meaning of human expression in an age of generative AI.

 

💡 Your Original Topic

 

The most compelling cases often address issues we haven't listed. If it's real, timely, and ethically rich, submit it.

 

 

AWARDS

Prize Structure

 

Two winning cases are selected each round for inclusion in the TKEthics Invitational, with US$1,500 in prizes in total.

 

School Prize: $500 each

 

$500 to each winner's school, to support its ethics and philosophy programme.

 

Student Prize: $250 each

 

$250 to each winning student author directly.

Winning cases will be used in the TKEthics Invitational. All winners are notified by email.

 

 

HOW TO ENTER

Writing and Submitting Your Case

 

 

1. Choose a Topic

 

Identify a real-world scenario at the intersection of technology or AI and ethics. The best topics resist easy resolution and generate genuine moral disagreement.

 

2. Draft Your Case

 

Write a 300 to 600 word ethics case. Describe the scenario clearly, identify the key stakeholders, and surface the core ethical tension without leading readers toward a predetermined conclusion. Feel free to include citations to relevant articles.

 

3. Add Discussion Questions

 

Include exactly 3 open-ended discussion questions beneath your case. These should probe the ethical tensions at the heart of the scenario and be usable by a team in competition.

 

4. Submit Online

 

Submit via the submission form. You may submit more than one case per submission. By submitting, you grant MPI permission to use your case in the TKEthics Invitational if selected.

 

 

JUDGING CRITERIA

What Makes a Strong Case?

 

Our panel judges each submission across five dimensions. The strongest cases excel in all five.

• Ethical Depth: The case engages substantively with ethical theory. It invites reasoning from multiple frameworks (consequentialist, deontological, virtue-based, etc.) without being a philosophy lecture.

• Genuine Ambiguity: There is no obvious "right answer." Reasonable, well-intentioned people could reach different conclusions. Avoid strawmanning any position.

• Clarity and Accessibility: The scenario is clearly explained. High school students and younger participants with no specialist training should be able to engage with it productively.

• Contemporary Relevance: The case is grounded in real, current, or plausible near-future technology and connected to actual ethical debates in the world today.

• Quality of Discussion Questions: All 3 questions are open-ended, non-leading, and genuinely probe the ethical tensions at the heart of the case.

 

AI Policy

 

You are welcome to use AI tools to assist with research, brainstorming, or editing. However, cases that appear to be substantially or obviously AI-generated will not score well. We are looking for your voice, your ideas, and your ethical reasoning.

 

 

FAQ

Common Questions

 

 

Do I need to know a lot about AI or philosophy to enter?

 

No. The best cases come from students who are curious and observant, not necessarily those with formal training. If you have noticed an ethical tension in technology you have encountered, you have the seed of a case.

 

Can I use AI tools to help me write?

 

Yes, AI tools are permitted for research, brainstorming, and editing. However, cases that appear obviously AI-generated will not score well. We want your ideas and your voice, with AI as a tool, not the author.

 

Is there a required format?

 

Cases should be 300 to 600 words, followed by exactly 3 open-ended discussion questions. You are welcome to include citations to articles you think are relevant. Browse past TKEthics case sets for examples.

 

Can I submit more than one case?

 

Yes. You may submit multiple cases in a single submission. Each case is evaluated independently.

 

Can I submit a case about a topic not listed in the themes?

 

Absolutely. The themes listed are illustrative, not exhaustive. Any original topic at the intersection of technology or AI and ethics is welcome, provided it meets the judging criteria.