Student Delegation Attends Critical Issues Forum

This past March 26, 18 high schools came together to discuss youth engagement for a safer world. The Critical Issue Forum (CIF) this Spring 2026 brought schools from Japan, the Middle East, and the United States all to the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA. For three days students were able to connect with one another, present their findings, and finally enjoy the experience of having their hard work considered and debated. Also, the CIF team made the conference entertaining and accessible for the participants, including a Jeopardy and Pizza night on the first day. Even though the topics discussed were not made for table dining, the CIF team handled the event with ease and anticipated the result of each discussion. Although the main event was the presentations, students were given free time to explore the area. This conference gave students the opportunity to reach out to a diverse group to discuss nuclear issues with the purpose of bringing awareness to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation policies, while preparing the next generation of global leaders. 

This year’s theme, “Facing the Global Nuclear Threat: Youth Engagement for a Safer World,” reflects the urgency of today’s international environment. Yet, it illustrates the essential role that young people play in addressing these challenges. This year, travel disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East prevented the Pakistani delegation from joining in person, but nevertheless they made an effort to cooperate during hybrid participation. During the second day, after an introduction given by the Senior Project Manager, the founding Director of CNS and the Dean of the Institute, the delegations began their presentations. Every presentation showed curiosity, commitment, passion, and strong research. 

Kasisei High School from Tokyo, Japan was the first international school to open the conference. Their project consisted of giving an overview of past treaties that have been made for nuclear non-proliferation and youth activities that affected these treaties with the proposal to focus on how to make prominence to global nonproliferation. How? By creating a website to make it more accessible for kids to understand current situations. A student named Sotaro, representing the school from Tokyo, became involved with CIF when a teacher presented the opportunity to him. Involved with politics from a young age, delegate Sotaro wanted to expand his knowledge of nuclear weapons further so CIF became the perfect space for him to research and expand his information. His presentation gave the other students a unique perspective, especially when he shared that his father is in the Air Force of Japan.  

A delegate named Prisha from India had a similar experience attending the CIF conference: “It has been lovely so far … Seeing everyone present and being so enthusiastic, it was very interesting, especially because everyone is from such different backgrounds.” She and her partner were introduced by a program called “Seeds of Youth” where they were later asked to participate in CIF. Sadly her partner could not travel to Monterey because of the current situation in the Middle East, but both partners communicated through text to create the presentation. Their presentation focused on the Doomsday Clock.

Nowadays the Nuclear Weapons threat has increased substantially but it is not discussed as frequently. Stevenson student participants in the CIF conferences bring back to the school community new approaches on how young people can help to stop nuclear nonproliferation and the opportunity to learn and discuss their worries about our future.