This term, 15 Year 12 students have been participating in the Collaborative LIS/NHEHS Polymath Project, a new partnership with the London Interdisciplinary School. Designed to mirror the rigour of university-level study, this partnership with the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) challenged our students to step outside traditional subject silos. By mixing the perspectives of scientists, artists, and humanities students, the groups worked to address two of the most pressing “Contextual Challenges” of modern urban life.

The first, Urban Cool, tasked students with how to support citizens and organisations to create cooler, greener, and fairer cities that bring joy and health to everyone The second, Where People Meet, required students to consider how they might re-imagine and create community spaces of the future where people are connected, places are healthy, and everyone is leading a good life?

Throughout the Spring Term, our students had access to undergraduate-level lectures and coaching from LIS-trained experts, providing them with a significant advantage as they look toward their future university applications and careers.

This week saw the finale where the two teams presented their ideas to an audience of academics and Year 2 students at LIS in Whitechapel.  The presentation was delivered in a Pecha Kucha style where they had 20 seconds per slide and a maximum of 20 slides in order to get their idea across.  They were then subjected to a forensic cross examination by the students at LIS, who then presented on their ideas that they have been working on in parallel. To keep energy levels high, pizza and mini eggs – the food of the university student – was provided in abundance.

Our Year 12 students thoroughly enjoyed the project, particularly appreciative of seeing a different approach to complex ideas.

“The LIS Polymath project was a great opportunity to immerse ourselves in real world issues, with real world assistance and experience from the attentive team at LIS (Shout out Charlie). We gained insight as a team that allowed us to perceive what university and beyond will look like, especially with the interdisciplinary approach and integration of our subjects and interests. ” –  Olivia M

“The polymath project was a highly rewarding experience that allowed me to develop my ideas creatively while strengthening my research and independent thinking skills to solve the problem of urban cool. “- Isabelle E

A big thank you to everyone involved!