Since 2019 we have created detailed summaries of our debates. Reading those provides the best way to understand how Sylvan debates work and tap into the wisdom we generate.
See recent debates below, or search for any topic of interest here:
The Sylvans discussed AI in the justice system based on the motion: the justice system should rely less on human judgement. Attendees debated the deep intersections of technology, bias and ethics. We …
Welcome to another engaging evening with the Sylvans, where members gathered to debate a highly controversial motion. They fiercely discussed the following statement: ‘The US is no longer a European a…
The Sylvans recently hosted a fascinating short debate evening on AI inequality. The audience voted to tackle a highly relevant and divisive topic. They chose to debate whether AI will widen inequalit…
Is the path to gender equality paved with economic policy or cultural revolution? The Sylvans gathered to debate a motion that strikes at the heart of modern society: whether universal childcare would…
The Sylvans gathered to debate a motion that strikes at the heart of social media accountability: ‘social media executives should be personally liable for their algorithms’.
As concerns over mental…
The Sylvans gathered to debate a pressing global issue regarding growth and climate change. The motion before the house was: ‘Economic growth is incompatible with solving climate change.’
This disc…
On a winter evening in 2026, the Sylvans gathered to debate a hypothetical yet high-stakes geopolitical crisis. The motion before the House was: ‘This House would fight to ensure Greenland’s soverei…
The value of university education is a topic that divides opinion across generations and industries. The Sylvans gathered to debate a motion that cuts to the heart of modern aspiration: ‘university …
On December 1, 2025, the Sylvans gathered to debate a motion that echoes through centuries of folklore and economic theory: ‘this house would bring back Robin Hood.’
The debate explored whether Rob…
The motion facing the Sylvans was clear and charged: ‘masculinity is not inherently toxic.’ From the first speech, the debate centred on what people mean by masculinity, what toxic masculinity actuall…
The motion on the Sylvans’ table was stark: we can no longer afford the NHS. What followed was a wide-ranging, values-heavy discussion. It kept circling back to one central question. What does it real…
A lively Sylvans debate took on the motion “our society values the wrong traits in leaders.” Exploring leadership traits across politics, business, sport and community life, the discussion weighed…
Earlier debates
For debate summaries from more than a year ago, please go to past debate topics. You can see results of debates since 2015, our motions since 1999 and a selection of debate topics running back to 1968 (our centenary). We also have more information about the history of the Sylvans.
