Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) in Model UN

The Commission on Science and Technology for Development is an ECOSOC commission of 43 member states, set up in 1992. It meets yearly in Geneva, with UNCTAD as its secretariat, and is the focal point for the UN's follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society. In Model UN, CSTD simulations debate technology policy, and their most common theme is cyber and AI.

  • 10 open now
  • 21 upcoming conferences
  • about 20 delegations
Find a CSTD conference

Similar: UN · UNESCO · UN · CCPCJ

  • 4 countries: on 90 to 100% of seat lists
  • 16 more seats in a typical simulation of 20

CSTD applications closing soon

7 conferences close applications in the next 30 days. These close first.

More CSTD conferences

15 more upcoming

Show 6 more

Browse all Model UN conferences

Where and when CSTD conferences run

The United States, Poland and Canada host the most. February is the busiest month.

In 9 countries and online

Upcoming by month

6 in February 20272 open for applications now

13 of the 21 are for school students only; 11 are free. See all high school MUN conferences or university MUN conferences.

Most CSTD conferences are in the United States and Poland.

CSTD topics in Model UN

Of 133 CSTD topics on mymun, 50% are about cyber and AI, 8% about economy and development and 8% about health and pandemics.

ThemeShare of topics
  1. Cyber and AI 50%

    Example: The influence of artificial intelligence on epidemics, Costa Rica International Model United Nations

  2. Economy and development 8%

    Example: Evaluating the use of genetic engineering to achieve the sustainable development goals, Model United Nations Of Malmö

  3. Health and pandemics 8%

    Example: The ethical use of AI and Biotechnology in terms of healthcare, Georges Duby Model United Nations

  4. Climate and environment 7%

    Example: Technology's Role in Building Disaster Resilience and Climate Adaptation, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid Model United Nations

Recent CSTD topics

  1. Discussing the medical potential and ethical concerns surrounding development of xenotransplantation

    Warsaw Model United Nations
    Health and pandemics

  2. Addressing the ethical implications of the use of emerging technological and robotic developments in medicine

    Dasoupoli Lyceum Model United Nations
    Health and pandemics

  3. Establishing an international regulatory framework for the use of AI-powered surveillance and monitoring technologies in autonomous systems and robotics

    International Model United Nations of Ecuador
    Cyber and AI

  4. The Ethical Governance of Biotechnology: Developing international frameworks for the governance of gene-edited crops while promoting food security

    Kant Model United Nations

CSTD countries in Model UN

China, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan appear on 90 to 100% of CSTD seat lists on mymun, and France on 87%. The Commission's 43 four-year seats are split by region: 11 African, 9 Asian, 5 Eastern European, 8 Latin American and Caribbean, and 10 Western European and other states.

  • 4 countries: on 90 to 100% of seat lists
  • 16 more seats in a typical simulation of 20

Most often seated

CountryShare of seat lists
  1. 1China100%
  2. 2United States98%
  3. 3United Kingdom93%
  4. 4Japan90%
  5. 5France87%
  6. 6Germany85%
  7. 7India85%
  8. 8Russia79%
  9. 9Brazil75%
  10. 10Canada73%
  11. 11South Africa65%
  12. 12South Korea63%

Most requested

CountryShare of applicants
  1. 1United States11%
  2. 2Germany9%
  3. 3Japan8%
  4. 4China8%
  5. 5United Kingdom6%
  6. 6India6%
  7. 7Canada6%
  8. 8France5%
  9. 9Australia4%
  10. 10South Korea4%
  11. 11Brazil3%
  12. 12Russia3%

How the CSTD compares

Its rooms seat about 20, against 23 in UNESCO.

CommitteeUpcomingOpen nowRoom sizeSchool onlyMost debated
Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)21102062%Cyber and AI
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)146822144%Economy and development
UNESCO76412338%Education and culture
UN Development Programme (UNDP)291652%Economy and development
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)412139%Crime and drugs

CSTD in Model UN: questions and answers

How many delegates are in a CSTD committee?

The real Commission has 43 members. CSTD simulations on mymun seated about 20 delegations.

Does the CSTD make binding decisions?

No. It gives the General Assembly and ECOSOC high-level advice on science and technology for development, and it is the UN's focal point for following up the World Summit on the Information Society.

Is the CSTD a good committee for beginners?

Yes: there is no treaty to master, and UNCTAD, the Commission's secretariat, covers AI for development in its Technology and Innovation Report 2025.

What topics does the CSTD debate in Model UN?

Top themes in 133 CSTD topics on mymun: cyber and AI (50%), economy and development (8%) and health and pandemics (8%).

Can school students join a CSTD?

Yes. 21 of the 21 upcoming conferences with a CSTD take high school delegates, and 13 are for school students only.

Prepare for your CSTD committee

Updated Nov 13, 2026