User:Onefine409/Challenge the Best

Challenge the Best is a annual conference initiated by the Student Union of the University of St. Gallen (HSG), Switzerland, and the Global Humanitarian Forum Geneva. The conference institutionalises the dialog between internationally renowned experts, especially Nobel Laureates, and distinguished students with diverse backgrounds. Each year a current and globally relevant topic is choosen by the conference's scientific advisory board.

The first Challenge the Best conference took place on May 17th 2010 and focused on the topic “Climate Change and Social Order – Evolution or Revolution?”. The conference series will continue on March 28th 2011 at the University of St.Gallen with the topic “The European Mosaic of Human Diversity – How can we discover the hidden potential in our societies?”.

The proclaimed specialty of Challenge the Best is to offer a rare combination of an intimate group size, and hence vivid discussions among the experts and students, as well as interdisciplinary preparation of the students to stimulate the conference’s output.

The Conference
According to the self-presentation, Challenge the Best is divided in two main parts, the pre-programme and the conference day.

Pre-Programme
Prior to the conference, the participating students will enroll in a three-day preparatory programme in order to stimulate challenging questions and debates. The programme consists of seminars reflecting on a variety of aspects with regard to the conference’s topic. International professors and practitioners lead the interdisciplinary and interactive seminars.

The Conference Day
The conference day itself begins with a keynote panel, which is held by guests and the conference’s Chairman, Ambassador Walter Fust. Subsequent workshops of students and experts are presented as the core process of intensive contact, debate and value creation, as students closely cooperate with experts and leaders from academia and practice. The workshops encompass the sociological, economic, political and ecological perspective. A final debate aims to present findings to the public.

Publication
During the workshop sessions tangible solutions, which can be applied globally, are developed. Those so called "Lines of Action" are publicized after the event in the press and sent to the leaders of today as a proposal for change.

Experts
Challenge the Best has the aim to involve responsibility takers and change-makers of today, who have played a central role in positively influencing society, humanity, politics, technology or economy. Most notably Nobel Laureates will always be among the guests.

In 2010 Challenge the Best welcomed Ulrich Bremi, Nobel laureate Professor Richard Ernst, World Food Prize winner Dr. Hans R. Herren, Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, and  Professor Eric Maskin laureate of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Students
The organizer of the event proclaims that a central success factor is the academic foundation, creativity and lateral thinking of the forty participating students. Challenge the Best addresses especially European students who can apply via an essay or an exposé of a practical initiative. To ensure high quality standards, a Scientific Advisory Board of professors and practitioners at the University of St.Gallen supervises the selection process.

Organisation
Challenge the Best is initiated by the Student Union of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. A committee of Students is responsible for organizing the conference. Alongside help in academic aspects is provided by a Scientific Advisory Board of Professors of the University of St.Gallen.