2001: A Space Odyssey (Crisis Committee)

In this futuristic and high-stakes committee, delegates will take on the roles of scientists, engineers, astronauts, mission control specialists, and other specialists tasked with overseeing the deep-space mission aboard the Discovery One. Set in the year 2001, humanity’s most ambitious journey is underway: a voyage to explore a mysterious monolith rumored to be on Jupiter, guided by the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence: HAL 9000. With HAL at the helm of mission-critical operations, the space, ground, and manufacturing teams must balance their trust in the AI with the realities of human error, limited resources, and the psychological challenges of long-duration space travel. What begins as a routine mission to try to connect Soviet and Western powers to advance human knowledge may soon spiral into a crisis where human judgment, technological control, and the future of artificial intelligence are called into question.

Delegates will take on roles as members of various teams, including astronauts aboard Discovery One, members of mission control on Earth, and specialists dedicated to designing and advising the team on how to incorporate HAL for the mission. From technical malfunctions, to unforeseen discoveries, to tensions between conflicting agendas between nations, delegates must decide how to respond to evolving challenges. Will HAL’s programming guarantee mission success, or will the AI's decisions clash with the humans' sense of survival and ethics? This committee explores themes of trust, technology, human fallibility, and ethical dilemmas in AI decision-making. Delegates will need to collaborate, strategize, and think on their feet to ensure the success and survival of this landmark mission.