2026-2027 Topics
Practice Problem 1: Digital Dark Age
Practice Problem 2: Disappearing Cultures
Qualifying Problem: Influencer Marketing
State Bowl: Health Security
Practice Problem 1: Digital Dark Age
As technology rapidly evolves, vast amounts of digital information risk becoming inaccessible, creating what experts call a Digital Dark Age. Unlike paper records, digital files depend on specific software, hardware, storage devices, and file formats to remain readable. Discs deteriorate, drives fail, websites disappear, and once-common technologies become obsolete. Even when a file still exists, the equipment or software needed to open it may no longer be available. Proprietary formats are especially vulnerable because they may rely on companies that eventually discontinue support or cease to exist. Archivists, libraries, governments, and organizations such as the Internet Archive work to preserve digital records by transferring files to newer formats, maintaining older equipment, and creating backup copies. However, preserving everything may be impossible because the process requires significant funding, technical expertise, storage capacity, and ongoing maintenance. This forces difficult decisions about which scientific records, historical documents, cultural works, personal stories, and everyday digital materials should be saved. How should archivists determine which information is most valuable? Who should have the authority to make those decisions? What technologies could keep digital information accessible as formats continue to change? How might gaps in our records affect future research, culture, justice, and our understanding of history? And how can we reduce information loss before today’s digital world becomes unreadable to future generations?
Practice Problem 2-Disappearing Cultures
Qualifying Problem-Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing has transformed advertising by allowing individuals with large or highly engaged audiences to promote products through social media, television, music, podcasts, and other forms of media. Unlike traditional advertisements, influencer promotions are often woven into personal stories, recommendations, and everyday content, making them feel more authentic and relatable. Brands value these partnerships because influencers can reach specific audiences, particularly younger consumers, while building trust around a product or service. However, blending personal expression with paid advertising can make it difficult for followers to recognize when content is sponsored. As influencers become more commercialized, frequent promotions may weaken their credibility and cause audiences to question whether recommendations reflect genuine opinions or financial incentives. Brands also face reputational risks when an influencer’s behavior, statements, or controversies conflict with company values. At the same time, platform algorithms influence which advertisements receive attention, raising concerns about transparency, manipulation, and unequal access to audiences. How can influencers clearly disclose sponsored content without losing audience engagement? What responsibilities do businesses have when selecting and monitoring influencers? How might algorithms shape which consumers see particular advertisements? What legal and ethical limits should apply when personal content is used to sell products? And how can businesses and influencers maximize profits without sacrificing credibility, authenticity, and consumer trust?
State Bowl-Health Security
Health security includes the systems, strategies, and resources used to protect individuals and communities from infectious diseases, biological hazards, natural disasters, bioterrorism, and other public health emergencies. Effective health security depends on disease surveillance, early detection, rapid communication, scientific research, emergency planning, strong healthcare infrastructure, and the development of vaccines, treatments, and other medical countermeasures. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how quickly a health crisis can spread across borders and disrupt hospitals, schools, workplaces, economies, and everyday life. It also revealed major inequalities in access to testing, medical care, vaccines, reliable information, and essential supplies. Preparing for future crises will require cooperation among governments, healthcare providers, scientists, businesses, and international organizations. However, difficult questions remain about how limited resources should be distributed, how personal freedoms should be balanced with public safety, and how communities can maintain trust in health authorities. Investments in research, emergency stockpiles, trained healthcare workers, and resilient medical systems may reduce the effects of future emergencies, but these protections must be accessible to all populations. How can health threats be detected and contained before they become global crises? How should governments prepare for emergencies that are difficult to predict? Can access to medical care, vaccines, and essential resources be made more equitable? What responsibilities do wealthier nations have to support countries with fewer healthcare resources? And how can health security efforts protect communities while preserving individual rights, public trust, and international cooperation?