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 dur...

 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)  CST...

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 tha...

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...

Hi delegates! BMUN is just around the corner, so I wanted to revisit the pinnacle document of committee: your resolutions! Before we even get into the details of your resolutions, the format and jargon about resolutions can be quite confusing (boooo), but not to worry! BMUN has a Resolution Structure document, linked here , that covers all the teeny tiny details of these papers.  When turning your solutions into operative format, we want you to keep the SMART goals in mind: S - Specific , what exactly is this operative trying to achieve? M - Measurable , how will you know when this operative is successful? Are there any specific points that will make this solution more quantifiable? A - Attainable , is this solution genuinely possible? Is that clear in your operative? R - Relevant , will this operative positively contribute to solving this problem? T - Timely , when do you expect to achieve this solution by? Are these time-constraints reasonable? When in doubt, refer back to the SM...

Hi everyone! My name is Steven Luo (he/him), and I'm so excited to welcome everyone to BMUN 71's Commission on Science and Technology Development as a vice chair. I'm a first-year here at UC Berkeley studying Computer Science and minoring in Data Science as well as Public Policy — very appropriate given the focus of this committee. I started participating in Model UN during 10th grade, and attended BMUN for all 3 years. In fact, I was once a delegate in this committee! Besides vice-chairing this committee, I'm also part of the research staff, where we edit topic synopses and contribute to the educational mission of the club. Outside of MUN, I love to listen to music (I make frequent trips to see the San Francisco Symphony), pet cats and dogs, cook, journal, and read the news. This semester, I'm also trying to study in every library on campus.  I'm looking forward to seeing what ideas each of you has to bring to CSTD in March — see you soon! Steven

Hello everyone! I'm Naman Satish (He/Him) and I'm thrilled to be your head chair for the Commission on Science and Technology Development (CSTD) committee at BMUN 71. I have been participating in Model UN since 7th grade, and have had the privilege to attend numerous conferences, including here! Without a doubt, BMUN was one of my most unforgettable conferences, and I hope to provide you all the same amazing experience that BMUN has come to be known for!  As an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major at Berkeley, I have a deep interest in exploring the societal impacts of technology.  My particular interest is in how technological advancements can be applied to some of the world's most pressing challenges, but at the same time, I believe that it's imperative to consider the ethical implications of technology and its applications. That's why I'm so eager to lead discussions on this topic in our committee and I hope to see a variety of opinions and view...

 Hi all, I'm Tyler (He/Him) and I'm excited to serve as a vice-chair for this year's Commission on Science and Technology Development at BMUN 71. I'm a senior in my last semester at Berkeley studying Psychology with a minor in Public Policy. I am interested in understanding stigma and how people develop bias, and am looking forward to seeing related discourse during committee.  While I do not come from a MUN background, I have experience in speech from high school, and have found BMUN to be an outlet for me to stay connected to the public speaking community that shaped my formative years.  Outside of MUN, I am a part of a two hip-hop dance teams on campus. I love to cook, gym, and travel. If you're interested in any of these things, please come say hi!  I am looking forward to meeting all of you soon!  Tyler