The University of Oviedo will host the IV Edition of the Inter-University Debating League, in which Universities of the G-9 participate (Cantabria, Extremadura, Castilla- La Mancha, Illes Balears, La Rioja, Navarra, Basque Country and Zaragoza, apart from Oviedo). This league will take place between the 29th February and 2rd March 2012 and its main theme will be: "Is transgenic food the universal panacea against hunger?"

The official reception of participants will be on the 29th February. On the 1st March, the semifinal will be held in the Historic Building's Auditorium, where is located the head office of LAUDEO, Cultural Centre of University Expansion, "The Old University of Oviedo". On the 2rd March, those teams who have passed all tests will meet at the final phase.

Throughout these days, students will face each other to debate on the selected theme. Each debating team will be made up of five members, four-member teams being allowed. One of them will take the role of captain and the rest of researchers. For the debate to be held, it is necessary the presence of at least two speakers and the captain.

A few minutes before the confrontations, each team will be told the stance to take- for or against- and this assignment will be chosen by a drawing. Hence, if the different phases are overcome, it is probable that the same team will have to take both stands.

For the debate of this IV edition," Is transgenic food the universal panacea against hunger?" has been proposed as the main theme. Apart from the legal, politic, social and bioethic implications, this topic is directly connected with the Cluster of Biomedicine and Health of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Oviedo.

The jury, which has been selected by the Universities of the G-9, will decide which teams pass each phase and the winner. The first classified will win 3,000 euros, whereas the second one will be given 2,000 euros. There will also be a prize of 450 euros for the best speaker.

The Debating League, which was held in the Universities of Navarra, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha in previous editions, aims to promote students' public dialogue and the confrontation of ideas as an exercise of coexistence. Besides, it has the goal of developing personal skills such as search for information, analysis, spoken language, listening aptitude, team work and speed of answer.