Matt Oakman Prize for Academic Extension

This year’s Third Form Academic Scholars Programme has offered pupils the chance to explore an exciting range of weekly extension activities, from linguistic puzzles to philosophy and engineering. Designed to stretch and challenge curious minds beyond the classroom, the programme culminated in a celebratory presentation evening on Tuesday 13th May in the Driver Leadership Room.

Each scholar selected a topic of personal interest to explore in depth, developing independent research projects that were presented in poster form to staff, peers, and families. The subjects tackled were as diverse as they were thought-provoking, from the role of coral reef ecosystems in cancer therapeutics to the philosophical implications of anthropomorphism, and from the relationship between violence and intelligence to the future of quantum cryptography.

This year’s judging panel, led by Mr Evans, praised the ambition and intellectual rigour on display. The prestigious Matt Oakman Prize for Academic Extension was awarded to Shriyaa V for her powerful and insightful exploration titled “Are men born to rule?” Jesse O was named runner-up for his compelling research into “How is quantum computing shaping the world of cryptography?”

Other standout projects included:

“Are referenda destroying democracy?” by Tabs B

“Deforestation: How does it affect climate change and biodiversity, and which is the greater long-term threat?” by Oscar H

“To what extent is mathematics a language?” by Josefine M

“Does social media drive or reflect public opinion?” by Anni L

“To what extent do coral reef ecosystems contribute to cancer therapeutics?” by Zac M

“Is violence linked to intelligence?” by Lyra A

“How accurate is anthropomorphism?” by Edward M

The event celebrated not only academic excellence, but also the courage to question, the creativity to explore, and the confidence to present ideas in a public forum — all key characteristics of the Wellington scholar.