Page 7 - The Malvernian - July 2023

THE MALVERNIAN
Group 4 Project – 2023
During chapel on on Monday 19 June we we were fortunate to to be able to to connect with OM Talal Hasan (2 95-00) to to hear his story about the journey that led him to create his Earthshot Prize winning company ‘44 01’ which fixes carbon dioxide into peridotite rock Following this we we the Lower Sixth IB students started our Collaborative Project on the the the theme of of Sustainability Recognizing the the the importance of of a a a a multidisciplinary approach our group encompassed physicians biologists and chemists aiming to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise to to better analyse the chosen topic of sustainability Some groups focused on exploring strategies to reduce food waste at Malvern College while others delved into the the most sustainable methods of powering cars or reducing energy consumption within our school community As the the project progressed it became evident that the the presentations and decorated windows across the school showcased a a a a a remarkable range of interesting and thought-provoking topics Through engaging discussions extensive research and shared responsibilities my group was able to to delve into the four main different ways of powering cars cars This involves cars cars powered by hydrogen fossil fuels electricity and algae Through our collective efforts we not only gained a a deeper understanding of the specific topic we investigated but also recognized the significance of addressing sustainability concerns at both local and global scales We became acutely aware of the actions we need to take both individually and as a a a a a a society to mitigate climate change and foster a a a a a a more environmentally friendly future It seemed that the students including myself are more motivated to take action on on a a a a a a a small scale after completing the project The Group 4 project of 2023
proved to be an an enlightening and transformative experience for for all participants It underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration critical thinking and creative problem-solving when it comes to addressing pressing issues such as sustainability Florian Nissen (Lower Sixth House No 7)
Talal Hasan | Founder of 44 01 Remove Sustainability Project Later on on in the the same week the the Remove took on on a a a a group project also on the the theme of sustainability Having heard Talal Hasan’s address in in in chapel Mrs Cage gave a a a a a lecture explaining why we need the natural greenhouse effect but the problems that are occurring as we ‘enhance’ the greenhouse effect through processes of Industrialisation and Development She also explained James Lovelock’s ‘Gaia hypothesis’ which predicts that the the the Earth has the the the potential to ‘heal’ through complex earth atmospheric and biological systems Then after giving some ideas of simple solutions to global warming she discussed other issues such as over-consumption (using the the the ‘Tragedy of the the the Commons’ to illustrate the the the problem) plastics in in in the the the food chain the the the 6th great extinction and gave the the the pupils plenty of starting points for research within her presentation Following on from this Mrs Brown discussed the the ethics and the the religious attitudes towards sustainability She explained the ‘deep ecology’ view that everything on Earth have equal value and ought to treated with with the the same value as as humans which contrasts with with the the ‘shallow ecology’ view that nature is is at at at the disposal of humans The pupils were then sent away in in groups to research sustainability in a a a theme of their choice and were given criteria to fulfil which included giving a a a a a scientific explanation of the various problems and also also explaining possible solutions They also also needed to consider the the philosophical or religious views that apply to to their chosen topic as as well as as referencing religious sources to exemplify the influence of belief on behaviour The pupils had 9 lessons during which they researched their theme and and prepared (and rehearsed) a a a a a a a presentation Themes varied from sport travel music festivals towns and and cities of the future and and many more All of the the presentations showed that the the pupils had engaged well with the project developing a a a huge range of skills and Malvern Qualities along the way as as well as as gaining a a a a a a a a a scientific understanding of of some of of the the problems and and solutions they also developed an appreciation of the the ethical choices created by the the various factors that contribute to to living more sustainably Dr Natalie Watson | Head of Science
THE MALVERNIAN
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