2024 Prompts

These were the 2024 prompts for the YIWC. You can check out the winning articles here.

Medicine

The past year has been marked by many significant medical advances, none more groundbreaking than the FDA-approved CRISPR treatment of individuals with sickle-cell anemia. Despite all of the technologically-driven advancements, there is a growing interest in how traditional and alternative forms of medical treatment can be integrated into modern practices. Many treatments are growing in popularity such as acupuncture, mindfulness practices, psychedelic assisted therapy, and chiropractic care. The growing interest in non-conventional Western medicine presents opportunity for more patient-centered care, however this also poses many challenges. Many professionals and patients may resist integration, calling for rigorous scientific validation.

How can traditional/alternative forms of treatment be integrated into modern medical practices?

Here are some questions to help guide your writing:

• How is traditional/alternative medicine defined? Is this a set definition or does it vary from culture to culture?
• Why do some traditional forms of medicine stick around? Historically, how has traditional medicine related to medical advancements? 
• How can differences in cultural and ethical beliefs be addressed when integrating traditional/alternative medicine into modern practices? Why are some people in society often dismissive of alternative medicine?
• What kind of scientific research is needed to support the integration of traditional and alternative medicine?

Environmental Science

As we enter into a new geological era experts call “The Anthropocene”, reports from the World Energy Council call to action on how to cope with rising demand for energy as the world endures threats from global warming, global acidification, and climate change. This geologic epoch signifies a period during which human activity has become the dominant influence on the global environment. Due to the ever increasing complexity of the relationship between humans and the environment, new strategies of mediating the effects of human activity must also evolve.

What “global threat” has had the most impact in the development of the Anthropocene??

Here are some questions to help guide your writing:

• How would you define the “Anthropocene”? How does the scientific community define this era?
• What are some of the enduring threats that affect and have affected the Earth?
• What is the importance of defining what constitutes a “global threat”? Why is it important to identify the threat with the most impact?
• What are some historical barriers that have prevented policies and agreements from being made to reduce these threats?

Technology

A hallmark of the past couple of years has been the increasing availability of AI technology. Previously, AI technology was often viewed as a tool for high-tech companies to use in their own products. The development of self-driving cars, for example, introduced the idea of integrating AI into the daily lives of everyday civilians. However, programs such as OpenAI’s “ChatGPT” and Google’s “Gemini”, which can generate passages of text or code based on prompts the user gives it, have become extremely prevalent amongst casual tech users since they are free and easy to use. Students, especially, have taken advantage of the openness of generative AI tools and are increasingly using them in the completion of assignments and in the process of learning material. This has caused some educators to worry that this will cause a decline in writing and math skills and possibly inhibit other skills previously developed prior to the advent of generative AI. 

Is the use of AI reducing opportunities for students to learn creativity?

Here are some questions to help guide your writing:

• What are some ways AI can be used to promote learning in the classroom? Can it be used to promote creativity?
• Has there historically been concern over technology reducing creativity in the classroom? Is AI novel compared to past technological advances?
• How might AI limit the ability of students to engage in creative thinking? Are these limitations more likely to occur in certain fields than others?
• Do educators play a role in mitigating student reliance on technology?

Psychology

Routine medical screenings are the most effective way to catch health problems early. They primarily focus on physical ailments, excluding or putting little emphasis on any questions regarding mental health. With an estimated one in five US adults living with mental illness these conditions are very important to study and diagnose. However, it is equally important to recognize the signs of someone struggling with mental health and to know what tools are available to help them, regardless of a diagnosis. Unlike physical ailments, mental health issues are often not regularly screened for unless there is a prior diagnosis. Increasingly, many doctor’s offices are starting to provide a baseline screening for mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Although these are in use in some parts of the country, it is not a required part of annual physicals.

Should mental health screenings be a routine part of primary health care check-ups?

Here are some questions to help guide your writing:

• Why is mental health a growing issue? Consider historical and societal contexts.
• How has society’s view of mental health care evolved over time?
• What are the ethical concerns surrounding the involvement of primary care physicians in mental health screenings? At what age should they start?
• What might be the benefits of including mental health care screenings? What barriers might we be able to avoid by implementing screenings in yearly check-ups?