In democracies around the world public debate is an important element of political life. It allows citizens to compare different viewpoints and helps form informed opinions on issues. It also promotes understanding and strengthens democratic institutions. Public debate is not without its risks however, such as the proliferation of misinformation and the increasing polarization of opinion.
Scientific debate is one example of public debate, where scientists use argumentative and critical thinking skills to communicate research findings that can be applied to real-world contexts and societal challenges (Dunwoody and Scott 1982; Leshner 2003). Public debate has also been used to promote scientific literacy in society, build public trust in science and address societal challenges (Entradas et al. 2019).
Public debate is an interactive and participatory form of communication that can involve the audience as well as the speakers. The participants present their views on a given topic through a variety of methods including speeches, questions and comments. In addition, the participants are expected to respond to attacks from the opposing side using logic and evidence.
The number of participants in a public debate can vary based on the topic and purpose of the debate. In high school or university competitions students compete in pairs called partnerships and are pre-assigned to either the pro or con side of the debate by their tournament host. The two teams meet a set amount of times to complete a full Public Forum round.
A moderator guides the debate and sets out the rules for the debate. Typically the moderator starts out with easy or light questions to allow the panelists to settle in and then moves on to more complex topics. The debaters are also given a certain amount of time to answer the questions, with a warning system often used that utilizes a colored lights resembling traffic signals to alert the speaker they have 30 seconds, 15 or 5 remaining.
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