For the HIAMUN’25 theme, the Academic and Organizing Committees have decided through a vote as a team on the theme Synapses. The term signifies “meeting points for communication between neurons.” Neurons are the building blocks of all human function.
A synapse, as defined in the neuroscience literature, is a specialized junction between neurons that smooths the path of the transmission of signals in the nervous system through neurotransmitters. This communication process is crucial for various cognitive functions, including learning and memory.
Considering all of HIAMUN’s past themes, such as Pillars, Revival, Pulses, Orbits, Perceptions, and the newest addition, Synapses. We wanted to dig deeper and understand why Synapses and how it was perfect for the 15th annual conference, so we interviewed the executive team of HIAMUN'25, including the Secretary-General, Aesha Hazem, and her fellow Deputies Secretary-General Hussein El Feky and Zeina Abbasi.
SG Hazem thought this theme exquisitely distinguished HIAMUN’25. Hazem stated that “the theme synapses is the perfect fit for our 15th annual conference as it truly represents what HIAMUN is.” Seeing as though synapses represent “the connections between different neurons, HIAMUN similarly brings delegates from various schools to address critical global issues”. Moreover, Hazem highlights that this “theme is special as it symbolizes the personal connections and friendships that are fostered during our conference”. This theme truly embodies the spirit of HIAMUN. She believes that the way the topics are discussed will be severely influenced by the theme as it “will serve as a guiding force for delegates to approach the issues with a collaborative and cooperative attitude. Synapses, with its emphasis on connections and interactions, will hopefully serve as a reminder that addressing global challenges requires collective efforts and the exchange of ideas and perspectives. It will encourage delegates to think beyond their individual interests and work towards finding common ground and mutually beneficial solutions.”
The theme Synapses was originally suggested by ICJ President, Karim El Shahawy as it came to him “in a flash of inspiration, right before the meeting”. He was searching for something that could “describe how everything in the world of any size or importance is connected to everything else, and to emphasize that connection, and the way our conference should embody that.” This is exactly what synapses revolves around; the connection in the brain that allows thinking to happen.
Futhermore, Abbasi voted for the theme synapses because “it can be interpreted in so many different ways.” Thinking of all the ways that synapses can be interpreted into MUN with collaboration because that's what MUN is all about: working together and creating eye-inspiring debates, and conferences. She believes “synapses of the conference is all the different committees working together making HIAMUN special or even the AC and OC members cooperating to help build the conference and of course the delegates which without their determination and collaboration the debate would not be as strong.”
Moreover, El Feky thought that the theme Synapses was perfect because it can connect with everyone, even people outside of MUN. El Feky stated “Yes, the name ‘synapses’ is a bit new and different” but, thinking about it, the word synapses is able to connect with everyone because, after all, it is what causes neurons to connect, just like humans. Synapses “represents the importance of this year's conference and (just as) synapses are integral for the development of the human mind, so is HIAMUN. This highlights the root ideologies, aspects and purpose that make up MUN.”
It’s evident that the theme will be able to connect to everyone involved based on their own experiences.
Stay tuned for all of HIAMUN 25's upcoming events and conferences, with outstanding debates that are anticipated to be some of the best in Egypt.