BMUN LXXI CSTD

Hey delegates! I was reading a little bit more about Genetic Data Privacy and the question of individual vs. group consent. I found this article I think you would find interesting. Feel free to give it a quick read, and I’ll also summarize its main points below. Genetics has reached a point of 'textuality,' which means a genetic data profile can reveal highly unique information, specific to an individual. However, such individual data requires genetic data of related individuals, which poses questions about whether individualistic privacy can exist in a post-genomic age.   This understanding of genetic data development and its implications for a "legally relevant social group" was first recognized by the EU's Article 29 Working Party in 2004. Despite this recognition, much of the EU's current data protection laws/regulations, including GDPR, emphasize consent-based approaches on an individual level.   Historically, human rights have been considered group-base

Hi Delegates!  I wanted to check in with you to provide some more insight to how our committee is going to work at BMUN 71. CSTD will be using standard BMUN Procedure.  Our committee will begin by opening a running Speaker’s List (standard speaking time is 1 minute, 30 seconds) and those speeches will be followed by 2 30-second comments by other delegates. This is the default timing for the Speaker’s List and can be amended if agreed upon by the committee. The Speaker’s List can also be interrupted by Moderated Caucuses and Informal Caucuses that give delegates the opportunity to exchange opinions on policy, solutions, and more specific aspects of the topics at hand.  In our committee, our dais plans on leaving the flow of committee up to you delegates, so we suggest you come prepared with specific subtopics and policies you hope to discuss! During Informal Caucus time, delegates are expected to draft and write Resolutions which will then be presented to the committee during a Formal C

 Hey delegates!  I wanted to highlight some of the key terms and takeaways for topic B, to make researching a little bit easier and help you familiarize yourself with the topic. Topic B is about genetic data privacy (related to, but in many ways more specific than the broader issue of data privacy!), and there are some keywords that all delegates should be familiar with before attending conference.  DNA: a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information! CRISPR-Cas9: a technique of genetic editing wherein a bacterium can be trained to augment specific elements of a DNA strand. Fun fact: UC Berkeley’s Dr. Jennifer Doudna won a Nobel Prize for her involvement in its development! Genetic Data: personal data relating to inherited or acquired genetic characteristics of a natural person acquired through DNA or RNA analysis Hope this helps! Steven (Vice Chair)  CSTD, BMUN 71

Hey delegates!  I wanted to highlight some of the key terms and takeaways for topic A, to make researching a little bit easier and help you familiarize yourself with the topic. Topic A is about artificial intelligence in the international context, and there are some keywords that all delegates should be familiar with before attending conference.  Artificial intelligence: machines that respond to stimulation consistent with traditional responses from humans, given the human capacity for contemplation, judgment, and intentionmake decisions which normally require [a] human level of expertise” and help people anticipate problems or deal with issues as they come up (Shubhendu and Vijay 2013) Consciousness: sentience and awareness of internal and external existence (not just doing, but being) Data: data is a collection of discrete values that convey information, describing quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further in

Hello delegates! Just wanted to check in and offer a bit more guidance on your position papers. As a reminder, our committee, CSTD, will be using standard Position Paper format detailed in the committees page on the BMUN website ( https://www.bmun.org/committees ). Besides the general format, we wanted to offer some tips on the research process and the formation of your paper, and help you write the best possible paper! Research The biggest favor you can do for yourself in the writing process is to really apply time and effort into understanding the topics beforehand. Luckily, your generous dias has written to key to beginning this process: your topic synopsis! Not only do we recommend reading this synopsis, but we hope that you will interact with it. Ask questions, make connections, reflect on what you learned. Familiarizing yourself with the synopsis is the key to a smooth research experience. After reading the synopsis, don’t stop there! This piece is just a stepping stone for the r

Hey delegates! I wanted to check in on Topic A and how the research on AI is constantly changing. With the emergence of ChatGPT, other companies are in a tech race to integrate AI into their search engines. Recently, Google and Baidu have unveiled plans to release chatbots in the near future. ChatGPT, a search engine app developed by OpenAI, is the fastest-growing consumer app ever. It appears to have endless capabilities, including generating articles, AI art, and even assisting with code. It has prompted other companies to develop their own versions in response to the growing demand. Baidu, the Chinese tech giant, announced "Ernie," which stands for "Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration." The company is set to finish internal testing by the end of March (NYT). Google also announced Monday that they would launch a chatbot service, "Bard." CEO Sundar Pichai announced in an internal memo that "we'll be enlisting every Googler to he