February 2026 Newsletter: TKEthics Registration Extended, Meet the Judges
TKEthics registration closes Friday at midnight (ET)
TKEthics Spring Invitational · Saturday, February 28, 2026 · Online (Zoom)
If your team plans to compete, register by Friday, February 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
MPI resources for teams and coaches: https://www.modusponensinstitute.com/resources
Check out these additional resources:
Ethical theories worksheet: Google Doc
Research for each case in the TKEthics Invitational: Google Doc
Meet some judges for the upcoming season
A few of the people who will be asking questions, giving feedback, and helping students sharpen their thinking.
Brian Palmiter Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and Civil Discourse Fellow at the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics. Coaches the Harvard Ethics Bowl Team and advises the Harvard Undergraduate Ethics Society. Researches ethics, democratic theory, and public policy, focusing on how people with divergent values reason together and sustain shared institutions.
Jack M. Wells PhD student at The New School for Social Research (Aristotle Onassis Prize Fellow). Researches race in international law and early 20th-century global diplomacy. Archivist and longtime Ethics Olympiad judge and facilitator.
"What I love most about judging an Ethics Olympiad is the opportunity to enter into an actual dialogue on ethics with students, as opposed to just "marking" them. It feels like a more humane approach -- I get to put something of myself into my questions and feedback, and they get the opportunity to challenge what I say head-on."
Mika Smith BA in philosophy and psychology; PhD student in philosophy and science studies. Researches reasoning, values, and methodology in science, including AI. Ethics Olympiad judge focused on student dialogue.
"Philosophy is important in life because it helps us investigate, discover, discredit, or confirm assumptions in institutions, science, and moral practices. It provides tools for careful evaluation and debate, enabling us to improve systems of knowledge and challenge immoral and unjust practices."
Global AI Debates (Spring 2026)
Registration window: January 1 – April 1, 2026
Submissions due: April 15, 2026
Break announced: April 20, 2026
Speech Finals: April 25, 2026 @ 6:00 PM ET (live on Zoom)
Essay + Debate Finals (Zoom): April 25, 2026. 6:00 PM ET Quarterfinals · 7:30 PM ET Semifinals · 9:00 PM ET Finals
Featured judge: Ayantola Alayande Ayantola Alayande is a researcher at the Global Center on AI Governance. His work focuses on AI infrastructure and compute, state-led approaches to AI governance, and responsible AI policy measurement and design.
"With so much information out there on AI's capabilities and limitations, separating fact from fiction is a critical function of education — which can happen in various ways. Debates like this are one essential avenue to open up the discussion about AI's variegated impacts."
Invitation (full details): Global AI Debates Spring 2026 Invitation Questions: GlobalAIDebates@gmail.com
Planned in-person events
We are planning three in-person events in Miami, Texas, and Arizona. If you are in the area and might be keen to attend or help host, please get in touch and tell us which location you are closest to.
Upcoming competitions
TKEthics Spring Invitational Competition date: Saturday, February 28, 2026 (online) Registration deadline: Friday, February 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET Register: https://www.tkethics.org/tournaments
Senior European Ethics Olympiad Competition date: Thursday, March 26, 2026 (online) Registration closes: February 19, 2026 Invitation: Event details
Senior USA + Central + South American Ethics Olympiad Competition date: Saturday, April 4, 2026 (online) Early Bird closes: February 4, 2026. Regular registration closes: March 4, 2026 Invitation: Event details
Senior Canadian Ethics Olympiad Competition date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 (online) Early Bird closes: February 11, 2026. Regular registration closes: March 11, 2026 Invitation: Event details
Global AI Debates (Spring 2026) Registration: January 1 – April 1, 2026. Submissions due: April 15, 2026 · Break announced: April 20, 2026 Finals (Zoom): April 25, 2026 (Speech Finals @ 6:00 PM ET; Debate rounds run 6:00–9:00 PM ET) Invitation: Event details
Questions or unsure which event fits best? Get in touch with your region, student ages, and team size.
Archie Stapleton Modus Ponens Institute
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