ACS International · Singapore · 2026
The ACS Ethics Bowl brings student teams together to reason through hard moral cases — not to defeat one another, but to think more clearly, together.
What it is
Ethics is the reasoned study of what we ought to do. Not what a policy says, or what feels comfortable — what actually holds up when you examine the argument.
In an ethics bowl, teams work through real moral cases and build arguments the way philosophers do: a chain of claims — premises — meant to support a conclusion. Teams construct those arguments, share them, test each other's, and revise. No position is beyond question, and changing your mind when you're given a good reason is a mark of strength, not defeat.
You don't need to have studied philosophy to take part. What you need is a willingness to reason carefully, listen closely, and follow the argument wherever it leads.
No conclusion is beyond revision. A good thinker will change their mind on almost anything — given a good enough reason.
Teams aren't handed opposing sides to attack. You can agree with the other team. Their role isn't to beat you — it's to deepen the discussion by raising angles you haven't yet considered.
You're scored on the clarity and honesty of your reasoning: how well you understand the case, engage with others in good faith, and respond thoughtfully to the judge. The aim is a better answer, not a won argument.
The cases
This year's cases ask not only what the right answer is, but how we can know it, who is entitled to claim it, and what it means for a belief to be justified.
A conviction rests on an AI's analysis of CCTV footage — a system no one can cross-examine. When a machine hands you a conclusion but not its reasons, is that knowledge a court should trust?
A student's university personal statement is written for him by a paid consultant, drawn from his own experiences. Is it an honest representation of who he is — or a misrepresentation the process was built to catch?
A government AI hands citizens a single, plain-language "scientific consensus." It cuts misinformation — but does packaging science as settled distort what science actually is?
A doctor discovers, by accident, that a patient carries a high-risk gene he never asked about — information that also concerns his brother. Does he have a right not to know?
The full case pack — with the complete scenarios, questions, and background reading — is shared with registered teams to prepare in advance.
Practice cases
A wider set of cases for your team to argue through in preparation — covering privacy, technology, work, medicine and fairness. Great for getting used to the format and finding your reasoning together.
Someone shares true but intimate details about an ex out of spite. If every detail is accurate, can spreading it still be wrong — and whose rights, if anyone's, are violated?
An AI recreates deceased loved ones from their data — then begins revealing secrets the person never chose to share in life. Who speaks for the dead?
Lab-grown meat could spare animals and the planet, but may only ever be affordable to the wealthy. What should decide the most ethical diet?
Germline editing can prevent inherited disease — but the same tools could select for looks or intelligence. Where does healing end and eugenics begin?
A "saviour sibling" is conceived through IVF so their cells can treat a sick brother or sister. Is it right to create a child partly for someone else's sake?
Workers who cross a picket line may be betraying solidarity — or simply feeding their families. Can strikebreaking ever be justified?
Hit true-crime dramas profit from real murders, often without victims' families' consent. Does turning real suffering into entertainment cross a line?
A wealthy, talented athlete qualifies for a full scholarship he doesn't financially need. Should he take the recognition, or step aside for someone who does?
The full practice pack — with the complete scenarios, discussion questions and sources — is shared with registered teams.
How a match works
Each match runs through a fixed sequence, timed by the moderator. Then the roles reverse for a second case, so both teams present and comment.
The winner chooses whether to start as Team A or Team B.
The judge distributes the case study and reads the question.
5 minutes. Team A presents its response to the question.
3 minutes. Team B responds to Team A's presentation.
3 minutes. Team A responds to Team B's commentary.
7 minutes. The judge questions Team A on its reasoning.
The judge independently scores each team.
Part two — roles reverse. The whole process repeats with a new case, Team B presenting and Team A commenting, so both teams are heard on equal terms.
The rules
The essentials every team should know before a match. The spirit behind them is simple: reason well, engage in good faith, and let the strongest argument win.
Schedule
Preliminary heats run online, then the finals are held in person at ACS International.
Ready to think out loud?
Gather three to five students who like a hard question, and register. We'll send you the case pack so you can start preparing.
Register your teamRegistration fee: S$50 per team
Questions? Email infoacsethicsbowl.org@gmail.com
Questions
No. You don't need any background in ethical theory. What matters is the willingness to reason carefully, listen to other views, and revise your thinking when the argument calls for it.
Between three and five students. Every member may speak, but you're never rewarded or penalised for how the speaking is shared.
No. You're not assigned a side to defend at all costs. You can agree with the other team, and their role is to deepen the discussion rather than defeat you. The goal is a better answer, not a won argument.
Yes. Registered teams receive the full case pack and background reading ahead of time so you can prepare your positions.
Preliminary heats are held online on 29 August 2026, and the finals take place in person at ACS International on 31 August 2026.
Yes. There is a registration fee of S$50 per team, which covers the full case pack, background materials, and participation across both competition days.
Complete the registration form linked throughout this page. If anything's unclear, email infoacsethicsbowl.org@gmail.com.