World Scholars Cup 2025

What is odd about Rip Van Winkle?

Slept for 100 years and yet woke up with no impact whatsoever to his health.

Who is Rip Van Winkle?

A Dutch American villager living in the Catskill Mountains with his wife and children. He is a fictional character.

Where did Rip Van Winkle first appear?

In 1819 in a collection called "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" by author Washington Irving.

What happened to Rip Van Winkle?

He wanders into the mountains with his dog, Wolf. He encounters a group of oddly dressed men playing ninepins. He drinks some of their alcohol and falls into a deep sleep.

What is the message of Rip Van Winkle?

It's often seen as a commentary on the passage of time and the changes brought about by the American Revolution.

How has life changed between 1825 to 1925?

Technological advances like railways and telephones, increased urbanization, and movements for labor and women's rights. Democratic reforms expanded, colonial empires grew, and medical science improved health. Global trade expanded despite challenges like the Great Depression.

How has life changed between 1925 to now?

Technology like the internet and smartphones revolutionized life. Civil rights movements promoted equality. Space exploration, medical advances, and environmental awareness grew.

Reignite

To give to life or energy to someone or something; to ignite or cause to ignite again.

Burning up

It can mean you're very hot, either due to physical exertion or fever. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is very excited or passionate about something.

Burning down

This generally refers to the destruction of something by fire, usually a building.

Burning with

This phrase is often used metaphorically to describe a strong feeling or emotion.

Ezra Klein

American journalist, political commentator, and podcast host. He was born on May 9, 1984, in Irvine, California. He is currently a columnist for The New York Times and the host of The Ezra Klein Show podcast. He co-founded Vox.

Sam Altman

An American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT. Born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and has been a leading figure in the AI industry.

Moore's Law

States that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, making computers faster and cheaper.

Sam Altman's interview with Ezra Klein

Sam Altman discusses how AI could make everything better and cheaper, but also warns of job losses and wealth concentration. He suggests responsible management and political measures like wealth taxes to ensure fair distribution of benefits.

Purpose of Altman's essay

To design a system that embraces our technological future and taxes the assets that will make up most of the value in that world-companies and land-in order to fairly distribute some of the coming wealth.

The AI Revolution (Altman's essay)

We are entering the fourth technological revolution (information age) after agricultural, industrial and computational. More progress will be made in the next 100 years than any progress up to this point.

Moore's Law for Everything (Altman's essay)

Altman predicts that thanks to AI, we will reach a point when everything is getting 50% cheaper every 2 years.

Capitalism for Everyone (Altman's essay)

Sam Altman predicts that taxing income will become ineffective as AI transforms the economy. He proposes a national equity fund, funded by taxing large companies' capital and privately held land, and distributing it to all citizens over 18.

Implementation and Troubleshooting (Altman's essay)

Ten years after the equity fund's implementation, each American citizen would receive $13,500 annually. He believes this amount will provide greater purchasing power due to decreased prices.

Shifting to the New System (Altman's essay)

A gradual implementation of the proposed taxes on capital and land, tied to GDP growth. He believes this approach will make policymakers popular and concludes, "The future can be almost unimaginably great."

Author's opinion on Altman's essay

They wish he provided more concrete examples of AI benefits. They feel his proposal is vague and have concerns about income comparisons and AI-driven cost reductions. They think he should make a stronger case for AI's potential benefits over risks.

Michael Crawford

English actor and singer, best known for his roles in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and The Phantom of the Opera.

Counting Up To Twenty (Michael Crawford)

A song by Michael Crawford from his album EFX, which was the original cast album for his hit Vegas show of the same name. The song is a whimsical and reflective tune that talks about overcoming challenges and looking forward to a brighter future.

Trump's verbal tic

In an interview with podcaster Ezra Klein, Trump repeated the phrase "many people are saying...". Klein does not believe this to be an effect of old age.

Why has Trump been under scrutiny lately?

Trump's speech has been under scrutiny by his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have questioned his cognitive state and suggested he is too old to be president.

Donald Trump

Born June 14, 1946, is an American politician, businessman, and media personality. He served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected in 2024, making him the 47th President.

What is different about Trump's 'style', according to Klein?

"Trump moves through the world without the behavioral inhibition most of us labor under," Klein said, after stating the Republican showed signs of being low on conscientiousness but high in disinhibition.

The 2016 Presidential Race

Jeb Bush looked likely to become the nominee, but Trump came along and said what many of them had been afraid to say. "George Bush made a mistake. We can make mistakes, but that one was a beauty. We should have never been in Iraq. We have destabilized the Middle East," Trump said in a debate in February 2016.

Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush, born February 11, 1953, is an American politician and businessman. He served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007 and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

George W. Bush

George W. Bush, born July 6, 1946, is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and was the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

What are Donald Trump's flaws?

it meant the Republican did not necessarily have the ability to think strategically and carefully about what comes out of his mouth.

2020 Election results

Trump refused to admit he lost

Trump's term(s) in the White House

He has openly mused about using nuclear weapons, pulling out of NATO, and speculated about treatments for COVID-19.

Survey

A lot of young people stated they felt depressed about the future.

Hannah Ritchie

Hannah Ritchie is a Scottish data scientist and senior researcher at the University of Oxford, focusing on environmental sustainability, climate change, energy, food systems, and public health. She is also the deputy editor at Our World in Data.

Camille Parmesan

Camille Parmesan is a renowned ecologist and climate change expert, holding positions at the University of Plymouth, CNRS in France, and the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on climate change impacts on biodiversity.

Exclusive Guardian Survey

Found that almost a fifth of the female climate experts who responded have chosen to have no children, or fewer children, due to the environmental crises afflicting the world.

Shobha Maharaj

Dr. Shobha Maharaj is a climate impacts scientist focusing on biodiversity and ecosystems, especially in small island states. She has contributed to IPCC reports and works with Terraformation on biodiverse reforestation

IPCC Survey

Ninety-seven female scientists responded, with 17, including women from Brazil, Chile, Germany, India, and Kenya, saying they had chosen to have fewer children. All but 1 percent of the scientists surveyed were over 40 years old and two-thirds were over 50.

Why did Maharaj choose not to have a child?

Maharaj said fear of what her child's future would hold, as well as adding another human to the planet, were part of the struggle.

Dr. Alexandre Manette (A Tale of Two Cities)

Imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille, he is released and reunited with his daughter, Lucie. He gradually recovers from his trauma.

Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities)

A dissolute lawyer who finds redemption through an act of ultimate self-sacrifice, giving his life to save Charles Darnay and finding peace in his final moments.

Charles Darnay (A Tale of Two Cities)

A French aristocrat who renounces his family's oppressive legacy and strives to live a just life in England, showing his love for Lucie and his family.

How long did Australia spend building its broadband network?

11 years

Paul Fletcher

Paul Fletcher is an Australian politician. He has been a member of Parliament since 2009, representing Bradfield in New South Wales. He has held various ministerial roles, including Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities, and the Arts. He is currently the Manager of Opposition Business in the House.

How many households were unable to connect to the network?

35,000 premises remain unable to connect to the network. Although, that number was over 100,000 in August 2020 and over 11.86 million premises have been wired.

Who supported the broadband network?

The Labor Party (at the 2007 election)

Why did the government decide against an FTTP build?

A FTTP build would be too slow and expensive, despite leaks from within NBN Co purporting to say FTTP costs were falling fast. The new plan called for a "multi-technology mix" that emphasised fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) and use of existing cable TV networks, rather than FTTP everywhere.

Australia's wifi

Satellite services for remote users remain slow, and wireless services in regional areas are often adequate rather than brilliant.

December 23rd annoucement (new scheme)

An announcement that will require digital platforms to take down "seriously harmful" material directed at adults, in addition to strengthening cyber-bullying protections for kids. The scheme proposes 24-hour takedown requirements for digital platforms after notification of harmful content.

Trains v Cars (Canada)

The average train trip between Montreal and Toronto, the most popular one in Canada, takes five hours and eight minutes, while it would take half an hour longer to drive the same distance.

What is the average price of a train ticket from Toronto to Montreal?

The price of a train ticket from Toronto to Montreal changes depending on the time of year, but a round trip can run you upward of $300.

What is different about Canada in terms of transport?

It's the only G7 country without a high-speed option—in Japan, China, France, Spain, Italy, and the United States, trains that can reach speeds of over 450 kilometers an hour have been a reality for over a decade.

What is the cost of the high-speed rail projects?

The cost for various high-speed rail projects has been estimated between $6 and $40 billion. (A high-speed rail project in California was supposed to cost $30 billion but quickly blew past initial projections. It could end up costing $130 billion.)

Kathleen Wynne

Kathleen Wynne is a former Premier of Ontario, serving from 2013 to 2018. She was the first woman and the first openly gay premier of Ontario. She served as a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament from 2003 to 2022.

Alison Redford

Alison Redford is a former politician from Alberta, Canada. She served as the 14th Premier of Alberta from 2011 to 2014. Redford was the first woman to hold the office of Premier in Alberta. She resigned amid controversy and personal challenges.

Michael Ignatieff

Michael Ignatieff is a Canadian author, academic, and former politician. He led the Liberal Party from 2008 to 2011 and has held senior academic positions at prestigious institutions

Stephane Dion

Stéphane Dion is a Canadian diplomat and former politician. He has been Canada's Ambassador to France and Monaco since 2022 and was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2017.

First factor (high-speed rail)

It's logistically impossible as VIA Rail only owns about 3% of Canada's tracks.

Second factor (high-speed rail)

Density. Canada is not densely populated, making a high-speed rail not very profitable of an investment.

High 'frequency' rail

Though it's unclear of the true cost, a high frequency rail placed on the Windsor-Quebec City corridor is estimated to cost around 6-12 billion dollars.

What is stopping Canada from building a high speed rail?

A lack of public support and political will

VIA Rail

VIA Rail Canada is a Crown corporation that operates intercity passenger rail services across Canada, connecting over 450 destinations since 1977.

Bertha

A two-thousand ton cutterhead, world's largest tunnel boring machine

What was the purpose of Bertha?

A two-billion-dollar project to build a stretch of underground highway two miles long, two lanes wide, and two levels high. In December of 2013, after only four months and a thousand feet of digging, Bertha overheated and was shut down.

Megaproject

A very expensive (over US$1 billion), technically difficult and usually long-term engineering project. Many megaprojects have multiple aims and often large environmental impacts.

Bent Flyvjberg

Bent Flyvbjerg is a Danish economic geographer and professor known for his research on megaprojects and decision-making. He has written several influential books, including "Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition" and "How Big Things Get Done." He's highly regarded in his field.

London Crossrail

East-West railway across London, completed from may 2023

Iron Law of Megaprojects

Over budget, overtime, over and over again

What are some reasons of megaprojects being positive?

Engineers are delighted to develop new technology, politicians revel in the visibility they reap from building monuments to themselves, and everyone else—developers, bankers, lawyers, consultants, landowners, contractors, and construction workers—is happy to claim a share.

Jorn Utzon

Architect of the Sydney Opera House

Atif Ansar

Bent Flyvjberg's colleague

Tim Burgess

Served as the president of the Seattle City Council from 2014 to 2016. He has had a long career in public service, including roles as a city council member, mayor of Seattle for 71 days in 2017, and various other community and government positions1.

The Big Dig

The Big Dig in Boston aimed to reroute Interstate 93 into the O'Neill Tunnel and extend Interstate 90 to Logan Airport. Starting in 1991 and ending in 2007, the project's cost surged from $2.8 billion to over $21.5 billion, making it the most expensive highway project in the U.S.

Big Dig challenges

The Big Dig faced major challenges, including cost overruns from $2.8 billion to over $21.5 billion, delays, design flaws, safety concerns, and legal issues. Despite these problems, it improved Boston's traffic flow and created new public spaces.

Channel Tunnel

The Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, is a 50.5-kilometer underwater railway that opened in 1994, connecting the UK and France under the English Channel, boosting transport and economic ties.

Channel Tunnel challenges

Building the Channel Tunnel required addressing geological uncertainties, managing water ingress, ensuring ventilation, coordinating between the UK and France, dealing with machinery failures, and prioritizing worker safety. These complexities demanded innovative solutions and careful planning.

California high-speed rail

Began in 2008 when voters approved Proposition 1A, authorizing $9.95 billion in state bonds. The goal is to link major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, providing a sustainable travel alternative.

California high-speed rail challenges

Funding issues, legal battles, geological difficulties, stakeholder coordination, and political opposition. These obstacles have led to delays and increased costs.

Sejong City

Established in 2007, was created to reduce congestion in Seoul and boost regional development. Formed from parts of South and North Chungcheong Provinces, it's named after King Sejong the Great, who created the Korean alphabet, Hangul.

Sejong City challenges

Land acquisition, balancing development with environmental preservation, planning infrastructure, relocating government offices, and attracting residents.

Hambantota

In Sri Lanka's Southern Province, originated from "Sampan Thota," meaning port of sampans. The city aims to transform into a major hub with new port and airport developments.

Hambantota challenges

Funding issues, environmental concerns, infrastructure needs, economic viability, and political dynamics. These required innovative solutions and coordinated efforts for progress.

NEOM

Announced in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to build a futuristic, sustainable city in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Province. The name combines "neo" (new) and "Mostaqbal" (future).

NEOM challenges

Complex engineering problems, funding issues, environmental concerns, economic viability, and political dynamics. Innovative solutions and coordinated efforts are required.

Khazar Islands

25 km south of Baku, aims to create 41 artificial islands in the Caspian Sea, housing 1 million residents and featuring extensive facilities, including the planned Azerbaijan Tower, which will be the world's tallest building.

Khazar Islands challenges

Funding issues, economic viability, environmental concerns, political and bureaucratic hurdles, and construction delays, hindering progress and raising doubts about completion.

Three Gorges Dam

A dam being built over the Yangtze river, 607' high by 1.4 miles wide, which will be completed in 2009. It will be the world's biggest dam.

Three Gorges Dam challenges

Environmental impact, displacing over 1.3 million people, geological stability concerns, sedimentation issues, and required immense financial and logistical efforts.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, opened in 2018, is the world's longest sea crossing at 55 kilometers. It connects Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau, reducing travel time to 45 minutes.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge challenges

Complex engineering demands, environmental concerns, high construction costs, and logistical coordination among Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau.

New Eurasia Land Bridge

Part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, aims to create a modern rail link between China and Europe via Central Asia, spanning 11,870 kilometers.

New Eurasia Land Bridge challenges

Securing funding, managing logistics, infrastructure disparities, and navigating political dynamics. Extensive planning and international cooperation are required.

World Health Organization

A specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health

Dr Vivek Murphy

Leader of WHO's commission on loneliness

Health risks of loneliness

Depression, anxiety, and dementia, as well as increasing your likelihood to die by 50%. Equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Loneliness in older people

Associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia and a 30% increased risk of incident coronary artery disease or stroke.

Loneliness in younger people

Between 5% and 15% of adolescents are lonely, according to figures that are underestimates. In Africa, 12.7% adolescents experience loneliness compared to 5.3% in Europe.

Long-term effects of loneliness in young people

More likely to drop out of university. It can also lead to poorer economic outcomes; feeling disconnected and unsupported in a job can lead to poorer job satisfaction and performance.