Academic Lectures - Round Up
This half term at Wrekin, our lecture series offered a diverse and intellectually stimulating range of presentations, reflecting the breadth and depth of academic engagement across the school.
The lecture “From Beef to Butterflies: Rewilding Britain’s Farmland”, delivered by Mrs Jo Shindler and Mrs Lizzie Boffey, examined how agricultural landscapes can be managed to support wildlife while maintaining productive farmland. The session encouraged pupils to consider sustainability, biodiversity, and the long-term future of Britain’s landscapes, prompting thoughtful reflection on the balance between human activity and ecological stewardship.
Sixth Form scientist Kirsty delivered an insightful lecture titled “The Shape-Shifting Virus: How Influenza Evolves and Why It Matters.” Her presentation combined scientific rigour with accessible explanations, captivating her audience and exemplifying the calibre of student-led academic enrichment at Wrekin.
Third Form pupil Tily presented a lecture titled “The Baltimore Bullet: The Legend of Michael Phelps’ Eight Olympic Golds.” She explored Phelps’ remarkable career, considering life after success, the pathways to extraordinary achievement, and broader questions about what truly defines greatness.
In our penultimate lecture, Mr Darren Blanch shared a historical examination of urban engineering in London in 1858, highlighting the work of Joseph Bazalgette, whose visionary interventions addressed the public health crisis caused by the Thames’ contamination. This lecture underscored the transformative impact of infrastructure and public health planning on society.
In the final lecture of this half term, Dr. Paul Stott, Senior Lecturer in Marine Production and Shipping Market Analysis at Newcastle University, explored why commercial shipping may be one of the most fascinating industries to work in, sharing insights from his extensive experience in the field.
This half term's lectures offered a rich tapestry of scientific, historical, and cultural insights, inspiring pupils to engage critically with a wide range of ideas and encouraging a culture of curiosity and academic exploration at Wrekin.
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Lectures titles:
- The Baltimore Bullet: The legend of Michael Phelps and his eight Olympic golds - Tilly Senior, Third Form Historian
- The Shape-Shifting Virus: How Influenza evolves and why it matters - Kirsty Shindler, Academic Prefect
- From beef to butterflies: Rewilding Britain’s farmland - J. Shindler, Head of Biology & E. Boffey, Head of Agriculture
- The Great Stink of 1858 - D. Blanch, Teacher of Accounting and Business
- Commercial Shipping: Possibly the world’s most interesting place to work? - Dr. Paul Stott (OW), Senior Lecturer in Marine Production and Shipping Market Analysis, Newcastle University