ESSAY AND VIDEO CONTESTS

NAIMUN continuously strives to engage all delegates with the substance of international affairs both in and out of the competitive committee simulation experience. This year, NAIMUN LXII is thrilled to launch our revamped Essay Contest and Video Contest—an opportunity for delegates to engage with important global issues outside of committee and through creative work!

Please email all Essay & Video Contest submissions to our Director of Operations, Nik Mukhin, at n.mukhin@modelun.org.

Important dates

Essays and Videos Due: February 1st, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Winners Announced: NAIMUN LXII Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, February 13th, 2025

PROMPTS

Please note that the essay and video are separate competitions and are each considered individually. Contestants may choose up to ONE prompt in each category for their submission.

Video Contest Prompts

Please note that submissions should be around 1.5 - 5 minutes in length. For the video contest, please keep jokes, impressions, and parodies respectful and cognisant of world developments and regional conflicts.

  • Prompt One: Imagine that your favorite television channel or broadcaster decides to start a reality television show about the United Nations and global diplomacy. Choreograph a short video showcasing a skit from the show or a small bit of what your reality TV show would look like. 

  • Prompt Two: Research and think about what a day in the life of a diplomat from a country of your choosing would be like. Film a short day in the life video through TikTok or another social media platform showcasing what you learned. You can be as serious or as unserious as you like. Do not be afraid to get creative! 

Essay Contest Prompts

Please note that submissions should be around 800 - 1,250 words in length.

  • Prompt One: Recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been rapid. With the emergence of large language models and hundreds of AI startups propelling new ways to use AI, the world will likely be changed forever. What role does AI play in diplomacy? What sort of challenges or benefits do you anticipate AI will bring to diplomacy? You may want to consider how the issues of AI may affect diplomatic relationships, how AI could bridge divides in our world, or how diplomats could potentially use AI effectively to enhance their day-to-day work and overall worldly impact.

  • Prompt Two: The global COVID-19 pandemic of the 21st century was one of the most prolific and impactful outbreaks of disease in the modern age. Shutting down world economies, taking the lives of over 5 million people, and isolating different parts of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the greatest challenges that global diplomacy has faced in recent years. Currently, the WHO continues to fight regional epidemics across the world. Imagine that you are a diplomat in the United Nations representing a country of your choice. Should another pandemic of COVID-19 scale hit the world, what kind of diplomatic initiatives would you take? What are policies that you would introduce to advance the mission of the United Nations during a time of crisis? You may want to consider themes of connectivity across closed borders, health and safety, and distribution of resources.  

prizes available

Prize winners will receive special recognition at NAIMUN LXII’s Opening Ceremony, a free NAIMUN mug, and one additional free merchandise item of their choice. The following prizes will be awarded:

  • Grand Prize Winner, NAIMUN LXII Essay Contest

  • Runner-Up, NAIMUN LXII Essay Contest

  • Grand-Prize Winner, NAIMUN LXII Video Contest

  • Runner-Up, NAIMUN LXII Video Contest

Additionally, this year we are excited to announce that anyone who submits an essay or video in this year's contests will automatically be entered into a raffle to win special NAIMUN-themed prizes! Limit of one entry per person.

Please direct any further inquiries about the Essay & Video contests to our Director of Operations, Nik Mukhin, at n.mukhin@modelun.org.

Rules and Terms

Only registered NAIMUN LXII conference delegates are eligible to enter. Eligibility is at the sole worldwide discretion of the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc. (GIRA). Entries that are submitted late or fail to meet any rules or guidelines will be ineligible. Plagiarism — any uncredited copying or misrepresentation of another’s work or ideas as one’s own — will disqualify an entry and may result in disciplinary action by GIRA. Participants accept all responsibility for late, lost, misdirected, or illegible entries. Entries become the property of GIRA upon receipt. In consideration of the opportunity to enter the NAIMUN Essay and Video Contests, participants agree to allow GIRA to use their names, essays, and videos for promotional and publicity purposes. A grand prize winner is not eligible to receive subsequent prizes in future NAIMUN Essay and Video Contests. By entering, participants agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges and GIRA. GIRA may cancel the contest without notice at any time. The contest is void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law.