Page 16 - Bloxhamist 2017-2018

ACADEMIC

enricHment

Eunoia Society

In accordance with the Eunoia Society’s
commitment to fostering inter-
disciplinary thinking, this year’s lecture
programme ranged across the fields of
neuroscience, philosophy, law, theology,
chemistry and sport.

In the first lecture of the year, Robert
Blakey, a Department of Criminology
PhD student at the University of Oxford,
provocatively asked us to think about
whether free will exists if our behaviour
can be explained and predicted by our
genes and the chemical make-up in our
brains. This led to a consideration of free
will and the focus of the justice system. McGrath (University of Oxford) for a Langley (University of Oxford) visited to
The speaker was particularly interested fascinating talk entitled Richard Dawkins deliver a very interesting presentation
in how we deal with young offenders, and C.S. Lewis: thinking about science, about the issue of doping in sport,
especially as an awareness of teenage faith and the meaning of life. Professor exploring questions such as whether
brain development raises very significant McGrath talked about his journey from banning doping in sport is about safety
questions about responsibility and atheism to becoming a devout Christian of the athletes or ensuring that chances
culpability. and argued that religion sets a framework of success are equal on the playing fields.
for meaning in life. JHM with thanks to Carolina Hughes,
Later in the autumn, we welcomed the Hannah Marshall and Emily England for
renowned theologian Professor Alister Finally, in the Lent Term, Dr Gareth their contributions.

EPQ

Once again, I have been struck by the
sheer diversity of interests our EPQ
(Extended Project Qualification) students
have chosen to pursue. We’ve had
fascinating essays on the future of the
Green Belt (Oliver White), a somewhat
neglected African-American playwright
(Holly Killick), the impact of dementia
(Hannah Marshall) and issues with our
electoral system (Euan Wales). Will Brodey
and Will Rymer drew on their interests
in literature, writing on the development
of the Gothic genre and looking at filmed
versions of classic texts respectively.

Owen Maginnis wrote his essay on the
possible relationship between computer
games and gun crimes in America and
Denis Popov created a (non-violent)
computer game of his own. Theo Goddard
gave an interesting presentation on year – Charlie Lewis-Jones, accompanied deal of money for a local campaign group
the topic of his essay, which looked at by Will Brodey, Will Rymer and George in the process.
distinctions between noise and music. Price, planned and carried out a sponsored
Hamish Foster exhibited a superb walk – a project which took them from the The students have worked hard to fit
collection of his own photography, based Horton Hospital all the way to the Houses their EPQ commitments in around their A
around the idea of emotions. And we of Parliament in four days. It was an Levels and should be really proud of what
had a ‘first’ for the EPQ at Bloxham this amazing achievement and raised a good they’ve achieved. EEM

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