A group of Year 10 pupils went to Oxford for a Gifted and Talented study day which was an opportunity offered to the whole year group. The girls attended lectures given by Dr. Peter Vardy and Julie Arliss which offered real stimulation and challenge. The aim of the day was to stretch the girls' thinking and open their eyes to challenging, new and intellectual topics. The following is a write -up by Becki in Lower V:
'Truth in Mathematics' focused on the idea of order embedded in chaos and the question “Do humans create mathematical formula or is maths out there waiting to be discovered?” In the Nanotechnology lecture we heard about the WOW particle that could give people the taste of chocolate for a fraction of the calories, as well as the affectionately named extremely strong new isotope of carbon, “Buckyballs!” The lecture after a short drink and biscuit break was Environmental and Business Ethics. To help achieve a new Industrial Revolution we were urged, as possible future business women, to think more about sustainability and the “Cradle to Cradle” approach instead of profit, to help improve the environment.
The last lecture was on Evolutionary Psychology. It gave an overview of the argument that as humans have evolved through natural selection they have done the same psychologically. This brought up the important question “Are we really free or do we make choices for survival and success?” Finally after lunch there was a debate around Abortion and the status of the embryo. Both the speakers gave a side of the argument introducing many new ideas and then we were able to give our views before having a vote.
Overall the day was a great success, allowing us to start thinking “outside of the box” and stretching us to think about topics many of us had never or hardly thought about before.