Dear Students (and Parents/Guardians), Welcome to this issue of the KAAEP Bulletin. This week, you will find a variety of livestreamed talks and pre-recorded lectures on all sorts of topics, as well as online exhibitions to visit and websites to explore. I have kept in the opportunity to contribute to an Art Exhibition as I feel that this is a very special offer. Do take a look at the competitions and challenges: entering an academic competition is an excellent way of really stretching yourself. For our older students, I strongly recommend having a look at Springboard, the new collection of introductory videos on all sorts of topics. The idea is that each video could act as a Springboard to further research of your own. As always, I would also like to draw your attention to some great Reading recommendations from Mrs Visser: all are great, thought-provoking reads. Finally, I challenge you to have a go at a little experiment in the item below, on the Ashmolean’s new Exhibition. As always, I would like to stress that there is no obligation for you to pursue any of these opportunities, but we would like to encourage you to follow up at least one of these per short term and make some brief notes on what you learnt, or what questions came to mind. If you get into the habit of doing this, by the time you reach Year 13 and start to write your personal statements or consider applying for work or apprenticeships, you will have bundles of material to draw on to demonstrate your engagement and motivation. This is all part of developing your own Super Curriculum, which is essentially pursuing your learning beyond what you are taught in school. The good news is that you are the master of your own Super Curriculum, and you only need to follow up on the topics that you find interesting. Your Super Curriculum is what will make you stand out from the crowd, and will develop your ability to think critically and arrive at informed opinions. I do hope you find something to tickle your interest!
Pam Stokell Head of Academic Enrichment [email protected]
The Ashmolean Museum’s new Exhibition on the work of the Pre-Raphaelites: Special Preview Virtual Tour Hoping to open the public on 18th May 2021 This Exhibition showcases both the drawings and watercolours from the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The Pre-Raphaelites were a secret society of young artists (and one writer) who were opposed to the Royal Academy’s promotion of the ideal as exemplified in the work of Raphael. On this occasion, the Ashmolean have put together an enticing 39-minute virtual tour film of the Exhibition prior to its opening, with expert commentary from the curator, the director and other experts. Find out more about the work of this radical group that called itself The Pre-Raphaelites – their lives, their loves, and their art. And once you have watched the film, you may well feel the need to visit the Exhibition in real life and observe the drawing and watercolours first hand. PRE-RAPHAELITES EXHIBITION FILM | Ashmolean Museum
This might be an interesting experiment for you: Experience for yourself how much more interesting and meaningful an Exhibition is when you have some background information already in hand. And if you are thinking: “I am not really interested in looking at a bunch of drawings”, then perhaps all the more reason to try this experiment. Question for reflection: Will this change how you approach other exhibitions in future?
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Mrs Visser’s Reading Recommendations for this week: Each week we will bring you three book recommendations from Mrs Visser, just in case you are wondering what you could read next. All three of these books will appeal to your emotions, in different ways. And remember: if the book comes recommended by Mrs Visser, you can be sure that it will be stimulating and well worth the read! And if you are thinking: these are just stories – how do they fit into the idea of Academic Enrichment? I would reply that you learn a great deal from reading “just stories”, and the more you read, the more you are likely to see connections between ideas and the real world around you.
Key Stage 3: Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle. Fourteen-year-old Moa is enslaved, toiling on a Jamaican sugar cane plantation. He has experienced the ‘backripper’ of Misser Donaldson, and he sees brutality, rape, amputation and a degradation of life for enslaved people. When Tacky begins recruiting for an Easter rebellion, Moa and his friend Keverton join, going against the wishes of Moa’s demoralised father. The fight for freedom that follows is harrowing, but also inspiring, showing resilience, heroism and the importance of African traditions. This newly published, well-researched historical novel is based on the true events of Tacky’s War, a rebellion against slavers in Jamaica in 1760; it is a must-read for our Year 8 students who have studied the Atlantic slave/sugar trade this school year, and for anyone who wants to better understand this notorious period. It disrupts the narrative that enslaved people were passive recipients of chattel slavery. And it is written by one of the best writers for young people, Alex Wheatle, who has a magical ability to weave words to create vivid images and characters.
Key Stage 4: The Bunker Diary by Kevin Broo ks. In this Carnegie-medal- winning novel, sixteen-year-old Linus has been kidnapped and wakes up in a windowless bunker; he has no further direct contact with his captor, though at every moment he is being manipulated. Linus begins a journal. Then the lift, which is the only way out or in, opens, and a 9-year-old girl steps out, later followed by other prisoners: a junkie, a wealthy woman, a businessman and a dying philosopher. They are utterly dependent on the abductor, who seems to be watching their every movement. This is a disturbing and powerful thriller – I have seen students who haven’t voluntarily picked up a book in years be gripped by this novel.
Key Stage 5: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Nora Seed feels she has failed at everything and life has nothing to offer her. On the day she chose to be her last day on earth, she finds herself in the Midnight Library surrounded by an endless number of books with different versions of her life. Nora’s secondary school librarian Mrs Elm is her guide, showing her the ‘Book of Regrets’, then allowing her to experience parallel lives she could have had if she had made different choices. The result is fascinating – she becomes everything from a pub owner’s wife, to a glaciologist encountering a polar bear, to a famous rock star, to an Olympic champion. It is interesting (and sometimes funny) to see Nora trying to settle into these lives as she doesn’t come equipped with the lived everyday knowledge needed to make sense of what is going on around her. Nora has the choice to ‘settle’ in one of these lives – but for various reasons she always ends up back in the Midnight Library. This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book to make you think about choices, regrets, and realising the possibilities that life offers.
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One more fascinating Project from Zooniverse: If you are new to Zooniverse, the idea is very simple. Basically, our data-recording technology has so improved in recent years that all sorts of research projects across a large range of subjects are now able to collect substantial amounts of data. These data come in many forms, but essentially researchers need your help to sort through their data and help them to identify what is significant. You might be asked to identify or classify, to transcribe, or to draw around objects, depending on the project. There are short online tutorials to help you do this, and then you can get involved. There is a huge range of other projects to browse through at the Zooniverse website. Here is the latest addition:
Iberian Camera Trap Project The primary research goal of this project is to set up a real-time, automatic monitoring protocol for species living in protected areas. However, there is no artificial intelligence without human intelligence. In this project, volunteers are asked to count and identify mammalian species in photographs taken in approximately 40 locations throughout the Doñana National Park (Spain), one of Europe's most iconic nature reserves. We use a camera trapping system that takes three photos every time it detects movement. The massive amount of images is collected continuously, 24 hours a day, giving a global view of what happens when no one is looking. Your contributions will help the research team determine the abundance and distribution of these species at Doñana (for the time being) and provide valuable training data for machine learning algorithms. Learn more, and get involved here.
Modern Art Oxford’s Creative Call Out – contribute to the Exhibition! Sign Symbol Sound: Take Part! This is not a competition, but it does have a deadline: Modern Art Oxford are seeking to put together an Exhibition where you could be one of the contributors! Modern Art Oxford and Oxford Brookes University invite people based in Oxfordshire to submit their creative responses to Sign Symbol Sound, a new interdisciplinary exhibition exploring language and creativity. Sign Symbol Sound explores the variety of ways in which we communicate, connect, and seek to understand each other. From the language we acquire as children, to the creative interpretation of signs, symbols and sounds that shape our experiences of the world. They welcome submissions that reflect language and creativity in all disciplines and areas of life; auditory, visual, spoken and signed. The exhibition will be co-curated with Creative Associate, Laura Purseglove. Submissions are welcomed from all ages, professions and disciplines, and they can take many different forms: from a shape or a sound, to mathematical and scientific languages, observations in nature to personal conversations and abstract objects. The Curators are interested in the images, sounds, texts, or movement and objects, which reflect your experience of language, creativity and community. The deadline for submitting your work is Monday 21st June, 2021 at 5pm. The Exhibition will take place on 4th September – 11th October, 2021 For more information on how to get involved and how to submit your work, visit the webpage at Modern Art Oxford.
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Recorded Talk from the Science Museum: Climate Change, why should we care? What will Earth be like for future generations? On 28 January 2021, science broadcaster Dr Hannah Fry was joined by an international panel of experts—including famed conservationist Dr Jane Goodall— to kick off our Climate Talks series and explore the big question: how will climate change affect our future? Speakers included: Dr Jane Goodall, DBE: Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a UN Messenger of Peace, an ethologist and conservationist known for her ground- breaking research into the lives of wild chimpanzee in Gombe, Tanzania. Kira Peter-Hansen MEP: Climate advocate and the youngest ever Member of European Parliament Dr Tamsin Edwards: Climate scientist at King’s College London and a lead author of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (see the item below on the IPCC Graphic Read). Wanjuhi Njoroge: Climate activist, forest restoration advocate, entrepreneur and founder of People, Planet Africa Dr Hannah Fry (Chair): Associate Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at UCL, broadcaster, and science writer. To watch this discussion, and to find more events at: Climate Change: Why Should We Care? | Science Museum
A Message of Hope on Climate Change: IPCC Graphic Read The IPCC is the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, and they will be releasing their new report (in part) as of July 2021. They know that the most important people to reach with their message are young people, and so they have released this 15-minute graphic read, beautifully illustrated, to make you aware of the main issues for consideration. They have done this by travelling forwards 100 years in time, and telling the story of the battle against Climate Change retrospectively. It makes an interesting read, and it is also full of hope as it is told from the perspective of a crisis averted and a problem in the process of being tackled successfully. It also bears an important message: use your democratic vote wisely.
Because IPCC - A 15 min graphic read - History and Science of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (thesuccession.ca)
A Pdf version of the book can be found here. Download the PDF - Because IPCC - A 15 min graphic read (thesuccession.ca) (With thanks to Mr Taylor for passing this one on!)
Calling all Year 10 Students interested in Engineering! Science Oxford: STEM Insight weeks – Focus on Engineering 1-4th June 2021 Science Oxford’s STEM Insight Weeks aim to inspire Year 10 students with a week of thought-provoking insights into local STEM employers to gain valuable awareness of STEM careers. The next STEM Insight Week (1st-4th June) will be focusing on Engineering. Places are free, and students just need a teacher reference – online applications are now open and the closing date is Friday 21st May 2021 STEM Insight Week Student Application Form – June 2021. For more information, visit STEM Insight Weeks (scienceoxford.com). And if you have any questions, please email: [email protected]
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From Trinity College Oxford Trinity Talks: Beyond the Classroom – A Super Curricular Fest Selected Thursdays at 4pm Trinity College Oxford are hosting a series of subject talks by academic experts, taking place on selected Thursdays, at 4pm. For each talk, a Trinity College academic will deliver an interactive teaching session online, pitched at interested school/college students with an age-appropriate approach. The topics covered will be of wide interest both to those who are thinking of further study and those who are merely curious! The Access & Outreach team will also provide a brief overview of super-curricular enrichment and how it relates to thinking about Higher Education. Like the academic staff, we look forward to exploring Q&A from participants. Topics and Themes: 6 May: Introduction to Linguistics, looking at how languages change 20 May: The History of ethnic identities through Roman identity in the 10th Century 10 June: Fictional characters in late-18th-century and early-19th-century English theatre and what they can tell us about 'fandom' today 24 June: Molecular Biology: sequencing the human genome and modern assisted reproductive technologies 8 July: Chemistry: the importance of plastics in our everyday lives, the environmental challenges they present, and how to produce more environmentally-friendly plastics for the future Students can sign up through the link below. They are very welcome to join us for a thought- provoking journey into the super-curricular! Sign up to Trinity Talks
The Oxford Physics School Seminars (recommended for Years 10-13) Earlier this year, the Oxford Physics Department hosted an exciting programme of talks exploring a range of different topics of current Physics research. Perfect for students studying Physics at GCSE and A-Level who want to broaden their knowledge and learn a little bit more about the science research at Oxford Physics. Each seminar lasted 40 minutes long (20 minute talk, followed by a 20-minute Q&A). All six talks in the Destination: Space series are now also on the Physics Department YouTube channel and can be found here. These are aimed at anyone who is curious about space exploration. The talks include the science- themed game show, ‘Would We Lie to You (About Space)?’, which is a lot of fun!
NEW! For Years 11-13: the Oxford Springboard Videos This is a fantastic resource for our older students! The Springboard Videos, from the University of Oxford, feature a wealth of topics, from explorations of symmetries to colonialism to conservation of sharks. When you select a video, you will be asked a couple of questions to assess geographical engagement with the platform (totally anonymous) and you will then be able to see the video. The hope is that these videos might act as a springboard to your own exploration of academic ideas outside of the classroom. Do visit: Springboard | University of Oxford
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From the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory: Light and dark – a story of the cosmos Monday 10 May 2021, 19:00-20:00 Light is the main observable in cosmology, but most of what we "see" with this light is how the dark universe behaves. We will explore how the light from millions of distant galaxies are used to shed light on the nature of dark matter and dark energy. To register, please visit https://www.roe.ac.uk/vc/public/astronomy-talks/index.html
Atmospheric Science – a high flying career Friday 14 May 2021, 19:00-20:00 As an atmospheric scientist Andrew was lucky enough to spend nearly 10 years of his career as a Civilian Flight Test Observer with the Royal Air Force, managing access to the Met. Office C-130 flying laboratory. Experiments ranged from Cloud Physics through Atmospheric Chemistry to remote sensing. Key Stage 3-5: to register please visit https://talkingscience2020-21.eventbrite.co.uk
My Skills, my Life Online session for Girls interested in Science Thursday 3rd June, 2021. 11:00 – 12:00 It may seem a little early to be advertising an event that will be taking place during the half- term break, but this event is expected to sell out so I wanted to give you plenty of advance warning. This session is aimed at girls in secondary education, from age 11 to 19. It is being run by an organisation called WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), and will feature a variety of fantastic role models from STEM industry. It is a session aimed at inspiring and motivating young people, and especially girls, to aspire at a career within STEM. This is a free event, but you do need to book in advance.
Would you like to find out more about being a student at the University of Oxford? Then download the “Oxford from the Inside” student podcast Available on Spotify and other podcast providers:
Do you want to find out what life is like as an Oxford University Student? We are Oxford from the Inside, a podcast made by students for students! We feature interviews with current Oxford students from a range of backgrounds, subjects, colleges and year groups to give you varied perspectives on all things university. Including admissions advice from personal statements to interviews, study tips direct from students, info on all aspects of Oxford Life, and personal access stories – the panel of Oxford students are ready to answer any questions you may have! You can also find this on their youtube channel at (1318) Oxford from the Inside - YouTube Bringing you the good and the bad, but always the truth!
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If you missed this, it is still available: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Lockdown Lectures Series: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming Recorded Talk for you to watch anytime Uncover The Secret Life of Ian Fleming, best known as the author of the James Bond novels, with Dr.Christopher Moran. Christopher Moran is a specialist in the work of British and American secret services and has worked as historical consultant to the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. and is co-editor of the Journal of Intelligence History. What impact did he have on US intelligence during the Cold War, and how was his fictional spy, James Bond, viewed by those conducting real spy work? Join the Lockdown Lecture, followed as always by a live Q&A session, to get an answer to these questions and more! The talk is free to watch, but the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum request that, if you enjoy the talk, you consider making a donation to fund future talks.
Two great opportunities from The University of Oxford: Free Online History Skills Workshop Wednesday 5th May 2021, 16:00 Venue online, FREE Age range years 10-13 The History Faculty offers free online History Skills workshops to state secondary school, sixth form and FE college pupils in years 10-13 from across the UK. Each workshop has four aims: To inspire your curiosity about the past and enthusiasm for studying history. To develop your abilities to analyse primary sources in depth. To help you to develop the analytical, critical, and imaginative skills that Russell Group universities look for in applicants for humanities degrees. To inform and encourage you to consider applying to read history at Oxford University. For more information, visit: Online History Skills Workshop | University of Oxford Booking is required. Book here
Free Virtual Classics Taster Day Monday 17th May 2021, 13:15 - 16:30 Aimed at: Year 12 students Booking Not required This event is aimed at students in year 12 who are giving serious consideration to studying Classics at Oxford. The event includes; 2 lectures a demonstration interview and an opportunity to talk with undergraduates who are studying Classics. More details on how to join will be posted here nearer the time: Virtual Classics Taster Day | University of Oxford
Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, from the Saatchi Gallery This massive, landmark exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb was sadly cut several weeks short when the country went into lockdown. This whistlestop video tour takes you around the Saatchi’s celebrated exhibition, guiding you through a selection of the spectacular objects on display in the show in under four and a half minutes. Visit (1130) Virtual Exhibition Tour | Tutankhamun London - YouTube And if this short video has whetted your appetite for more, do visit the Saatchi Gallery to find out more, or take the time to watch this National Geographic video on the Lost Treasures of Tutankhamum: (1130) Tutankhamun's Treasures (Full Episode) | Lost Treasures of Egypt - YouTube (Just skip the adverts as and when they pop up.) 8
FREE Online talk from the University of Reading: The Fairbrother Lecture: Living with more than one language – the effects of bilingualism on mind and brain Please note that this year’s Fairbrother Lecture will be delivered as a pre-recorded film that can be viewed online at any time after its release on Tuesday 11 May. Language is frequently in the headlines, from worries about people speaking too many languages or too few, to questions of whether bilingualism protects against cognitive decline in later life. Bilingualism has featured prominently in language debates, with stories often over-simplifying a more complex picture. Join former Reading doctoral researcher Toms Voits on a journey through the uniqueness and complexity of the human brain’s capacity for language. Learn more about the ways in which two or more languages co-habit within a single mind, how processing allows languages to compete and co-operate, and the much-debated effects of bilingualism on mind and brain. With a focus on research on bilingualism in older adults, this film will examine some of the complexities that need to be unpicked in order to understand relationships between ageing, cognitive health and language. The Fairbrother Lecture is an annual Graduate School event at which a Reading doctoral researcher presents their research to a wider audience. For further information please visit: www.reading.ac.uk/fairbrother-lecture. Visit the UoR Website for more information and to receive the film link.
Oxford’s Mathematical Institute Maths Club - For 16-18 year olds Every Thursday at 16:30 The Oxford Mathematics Department are delighted to announce the new Oxford Online Maths Club. Every Thursday at 17:00, they will be livestreaming one hour of maths problems, puzzles, mini-lectures, and Q&A. It’s free, interactive, casual, and relaxed, with an emphasis on solving problems, building fluency, and looking ahead at links to university maths. It is aimed at students aged 16-18, so students who have applied for maths/physics at University, or who are thinking of putting in an application next school year. The regular host is Dr James Munro (Admissions Coordinator for Maths at Oxford University), and we often have current Oxford students or lecturers on the livestream as guests. More information: www.maths.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate-study/outreach/oxford- online-maths-club
The Chalke Valley History Festival – The Podcast Over the years, the annual Week-long Chalke Valley History Festival has pulled together some of the most exciting speakers in all areas of history. Visit the website to access a treasure of world-class speakers, with new releases every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. It’s a while since I last reminded you of this, so there will be lots of new talks! Podcast – Chalke Valley History Festival (cvhf.org.uk)
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Yes, the Royal Institution was set up for the dissemination of scientific ideas, but they are careful to appeal to a very broad range of interests, and their talks are an excellent place to start looking out for those priceless links between subjects that make learning so exciting. (And which will make you stand out from the crowd if you choose to apply to a top-level university.)
Livestreamed Event: The dreaming brain Tuesday 4 May, 7.00 – 8.30pm Sigmund Freud was the first scientist to support the popular notion that dreams are meaningful. Fifty years later, the discovery of REM sleep thoroughly discredited the notion. Join Mark Solms as he explores the mechanisms behind the dreaming brain and what dreams really mean. This is a FREE event, but you must book your place in advance.
Livestreamed Event: A new force of nature at the LHC? Thursday 6 May, 7.00 – 8.30pm In March 2021, scientists working on the LHCb experiment reported an unusual discrepancy in their data that caused huge excitement. Our current theory of particle physics, the Standard Model, predicts equal numbers of electrons and muons, but the results showed fewer muons being produced than electrons. Is this just a cruel trick of the data, or could this be the first sign of a new force of nature? Join LHCb physicists Paula Alvarez Cartelle and Harry Cliff and theoretical physicist Ben Allanach as they explain how they achieved this surprising result, discuss the potentially huge implications for our understanding of the world and reveal if this means we are finally about to see what lies beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics This is a FREE event, but you must book your place in advance.
Recorded Talk for you to watch anytime: Until the end of time To celebrate the launch of paperback edition of 'Until the End of Time', Brian Greene’s riveting exploration into the cosmos and our quest to understand it, join him in conversation with Jo Marchant in this, our latest release on YouTube. Watch it here.
British Tattoo Art Revealed, from Chatham Historic Dockyard This popular touring exhibition has already made waves at a handful of museums around the country, including the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Thankfully, the show has been translated into an online exhibition, which takes you through the themes of the real-life blockbuster. The virtual exhibition tells the story of world famous Chatham-based tattooist Charlie Bell, who mentored Britain’s pioneering female tattooist Jessie Knight, and highlights other featured artists from the history of British tattooing. It is utterly fascinating! Visit: Tattoo Online - Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (thedockyard.co.uk)
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FREE Webinar: Unifrog’s University Search Tool Wednesday 20th May, 2021 at 16:00 As you know, King Alfred’s school subscribes to a destinations platform called Unifrog. It is a really powerful platform that supports students with comparing opportunities, building up a portfolio of super-curricular activities and qualifications, and guides them through the application processes, including the writing of personal statements. This webinar will show you how to use the University Search Tool to find the course that is best suited for you. Unifrog describes this feature as the “jewel” in the Unifrog Platform, so it is well worth getting to grips with. To book: sign into your Unifrog account and go to the Webinars section. (If you are having trouble finding it, click on “Help”, select that “Help & training” tab, and then select the “Webinars” tab.) You will be able to sign up, and even send them a message with any particular areas that you would like them to cover in the webinar. You will then receive an email with the link for joining on the day.
From the “Speakers for Schools” Video Library “Speakers for Schools” is a charitable organisation that seeks to bring exciting and inspiring Speakers into schools. We have in the past benefited from some amazing speakers from them. You can take a look through their Archive of Recorded Talks where you can filter them for Key Stage, and for their purpose (e.g. Inspiration, Life Lessons, Experts Insights and so on). For this week, I have selected three talks with inspirational career insights.
KS3-5 – Vtalk with David Morrisey, Actor and Director Described by the Film Institute as “one of the most versatile actors of his generation”, David Morrisey is known for the meticulous preparation that he puts into all of his roles. Here, he gives a short insight into his career before being interviewed and then answering questions posed to him by students. Watch his talk here.
KS4-5 – Vtalk: How to boss your mood, with Chloe Brotheridge and Sara Milne Chloe and Sara kicked-off the Virtual Penguin Talks series by sharing their expertise and practical tips for managing anxiety C and taking control of your mood during these uncertain times. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and received a free audiobook download of The Anxiety Solution and The SHED Method. Walk their talk here.
KS4-5 – Vtalk Geoff Mulgan CBE, Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation Geoff’s masterclass focuses on collective intelligence and intelligence management in relation to COVID-19 and will be appropriate for KS4 and 5 students. Hel looked at how different countries around the world have tried to use data to track the disease and manage it, the role of new methods of crowd-sourcing in finding new solutions (eg for ventilators of protective equipment) and the role of platforms in organising support in the community. He showed how some of the innovations around COVID-19 may be used in the future to help tackle climate change and other challenges. Watch his talk here.
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Competition Corner Take a look at the opportunities below and consider having a go. There is a great deal more to entering a competition than the hope to win: these competitions are excellent ways of stretching your abilities and challenging yourself, and for demonstrating that you are someone who is willing to put themselves out of their comfort zone in order to attain that level of challenge. Regardless of whether you win, earn yourself a commendation or just participate, entering academic competitions makes you stand out from the crowd. For our older students who may be thinking ahead to university, entering academic competitions is a stimulating way of building depth of knowledge, and talking about your entry into a national competition makes for excellent personal statement material.
The Oxford Science and Ideas Festival: Poetry of Science Competition 2021. iF Oxford, the science and ideas Festival from Oxford, is seeking budding poets aged between 5 and 16 years to become wondrous wordsmiths and enter the Poetry of Science competition this spring. Winners of each age category will be invited to take centre stage and perform their poems as part of the Festival later in the autumn, with winning poems published in the IF Oxford poetry anthology. Prizes also include books donated by Quarto Kids and DK Press. Young poets can draw inspiration from anything from atoms to Attenborough, test-tubes to trains, rivers to rockets in any poetry style. How about a limerick, a haiku, a rhyme or even a rap! Science is full of surprises and we’d love to be surprised by a poem with an unusual shape or structure. Participants can write their poem at home or school. Entries should be submitted by Friday 11 June. For more information and entry forms, visit Poetry Competition - IF-Oxford The winning poems will be chosen by a panel of judges representing Oxford Brookes University, the Oxfordshire Science Learning Partnership and IF Oxford
BBC Launches Young Composer 2021 competition The BBC is calling on young musicians from across the country to enter its BBC Young Composer competition in 2021. BBC Young Composer has launched countless musical careers since its inception in 1998. The BBC is seeking musically-minded students aged 12 – 18 of all technical abilities, backgrounds, and musical influences to submit an original composition and recording. Any genre, any instruments, and any method of composing are welcome – music-makers may not think of themselves as a composer, but if they love to create their own original music then the BBC wants to hear from them. Winners will be given the brilliant opportunity to participate in a tailored development programme working with a mentor composer on a project with the BBC Concert Orchestra, culminating in a performance or broadcast opportunity. In what’s been a challenging year for so many young people, BBC Young Composer hopes to inspire young people from all over the UK to get creative and submit their work. The competition sits at the heart of BBC Young Composer, which has offered a platform for hundreds of young composers aged 12 – 18 from across the UK to further their artistic and professional ambitions. Many of today’s leading composers are counted in the outstanding list of BBC Young Composer alumni, including Shiva Feshareki, Kate Whitley, Alissa Firsova, Mark Simpson, Tom Harrold, and Duncan Ward. Entries close at 5pm on Monday 28 June, and the competition is open to young people aged 12- 18 (at the closing date). Please visit BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms - BBC Young Composer 2021 to find the rules of the competition and how to enter.
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University of Oxford Faculty of Classics: Creative Writing Competition for Years 9 - 13 The Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research, in partnership with the Faculty of Classics, is delighted to launch its 2021 Creative Writing Competition. Prizes will be awarded to the top three creative pieces written in response to images from the Manar al- Athar Photo Bank. This unique photograph collection contains around 80,000 images of archaeological sites, buildings and artwork from areas of the former Roman Empire and neighbouring regions, with a chronological range from Alexander the Great (c.300 BCE) through to the Islamic period. These images are ideal creative stimuli giving glimpses of an incredibly rich and diverse cultural heritage. They capture many evocative locations, beautiful artefacts, complex architectural styles, places of historical importance, and a huge range of religious iconography (from paganism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam). You will need to write a piece of creative writing of up to 1500 words, and this may take any from, e.g. short story, poem, play, monologue. You can choose your inspiration from one or more of the images contained in the collection. And of course, although the prizes are not important, there will be cash prizes for the top three entries, and shortlisted entries will also receive a selection of books and congratulatory certificates. For more information and details of how to submit your entry, please visit: Creative Writing Competition 2021 | Faculty of Classics (ox.ac.uk) The deadline for submission is Thursday 27th May 2021.
From the University of Oxford Faculty of Classics: the David Raeburn Prize for performers of Ancient Drama
This is an unusual prize from the University of Oxford as it is open to students from Years 7 to 13, and you can enter it as an individual (solo performance) or as a group. All performances need to be in English, so you will be dealing with translations of Ancient Texts, or a composition inspired by Ancient Drama. The judges will be looking for powerful, creative and exciting interpretations of Ancient Drama. And no, you do not need any expensive filming equipment – a mobile phone will do! For more information and details of how to enter, please visit the Faculty of Classics Website. Deadline for submission of entries: Thursday 2nd December 2021 at 6pm.
Year 12-13 Theology and Religion Essay Competition Humanity’s deepest questions concern truth and meaning, wisdom and worship, justice and reconciliation. Students choose to read Theology and Religion, or Philosophy and Theology, as a way to engage with questions central to human experience. In the process they find themselves acquiring the sorts of skills of critical thought and reflection that equip them for a remarkably rich variety of future pursuits in the service of teaching or research, of business or government, of the arts or international development, of religious ministry or the charitable sector. This Competition is aimed at encouraging interest in these subjects and to provide students with an opportunity to consider in depth questions of contemporary and historical significance. You do not need to be studying religious studies to enter, and there are five thought-provoking questions to choose from. For more details (including examples of prize-winning entries from previous years) and information on how to enter, please go to the Entry Details. Deadline for submission: Friday 4th June, 2021. 13
Year 12 – The Lloyds Davies Philosophy Prize If you are in Year 12 and wondering about applying to study Philosophy at University, this is an excellent opportunity to experience the sort of work involved. You will need to write an essay of no more than 2,500 words, and there is a choice of three questions, all of them intriguing and thought-provoking: 1. Do you know that you are not dreaming right now? If so, how? If not, does it matter? 2. Does it really matter whether we have a free will or not? 3. Should we rethink the nature and limits of freedom of speech in the internet age? For more information and details of how to apply, please visit the Oriel College Website. The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Monday 21st June.
Writing Competition from the Lewis Carroll Society: Write the “missing” chapter! What a superb idea: write the “missing” chapter for either Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. There is no such thing, of course, so you decide where that chapter would go. There are three age categories: Under 16, 16-20, and over 20. Entries are to be between 500 and 2000 words, depending on age. There are both cash and book prizes, but really, just enter for the sheer fun of it. For more information and details of how to submit your entry, please visit: Writing Competition – The Ellis S Hillman Award The Lewis Carroll Society The deadline for submission is Saturday 3rd July, 2021.
The Orwell Youth Prize is a writing competition aimed at socially engaged young writers. The idea is to produce a piece of writing in any form (from poetry to short stories, journalism to plays), but inspired by the work of George Orwell who was renowned for writing from his own experiences, and observed the social injustices taking place in the world around him. He was also known for writing in a style that was clear, concise and compelling. Visit the website to find out more about George Orwell and his work, access resources, and for more information on how to enter this prestigious writing prize. About the Orwell Youth Prize | How to Enter (orwellfoundation.com)