Tackling topics from climate catastrophe to the nature of non-human intelligence, QE pupils impress in Cambridge challenges
Five QE sixth-formers have scored multiple successes in Cambridge University competitions.
Wen Lee, who has just started Year 13, was named runner-up in the Homerton College Essay Programme for his composition on Can renewable energy save us from a climate catastrophe?
Four other students were among the top-ten winners in the Cambridge Biology Challenge – also associated with Homerton – after impressing the judges across the competition’s four rounds. Shashank Pothuganti, of Year 13, entered as an individual and came fifth out of 941 entries, while a Year 12 team comprising Akein Abeysinghe, Felix Chen and Pranay Thokala finished just behind him, in sixth place.
Deputy Head (Academic) Anne Macdonald said: “The success of our five students in these highly demanding competitions is due reward for their intelligence, their thoughtful approach, and their impressive degree of commitment. At QE, in the words of our Boundless School Plan, we seek to nurture ‘deep thinkers and compelling communicators’: what better example of that could there be than these pupils? Our congratulations go to them all.”
After applying to the essay programme because of his interest in the topic and the opportunity it gave him to bring together his A-level studies in Economics and Geography, Wen’s first success was in being selected to take part. For his essay, he researched the complex relationship between energy, economics and climate change.
One of only 50 young people selected to take part in the conference held for the parallel essay and design programmes, he enjoyed a tour of Homerton College and the insight he was given into life there.
He took part in a series of activities designed to encourage students to think critically about global challenges. One of the highlights was a ‘mini Model United Nations’ activity, where conference delegates worked in groups representing different countries and considered how global warming could be addressed from their country’s individual perspective.
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony, where Wen was only one of two students to receive a prize for his essay category. He received a plaque, certificate and a book.
In the Cambridge Biology Challenge, Shashank took part as an individual, which meant he was competing against teams of up to five. He was awarded a distinction in all four rounds, as well as a badge of merit in three rounds. In the third, he was overall runner-up.
The demanding challenge required teams to respond to four questions over the course of eight months:
- Can new life be created?
- Why is Maths a gift for biologists?
- What does it mean for a non-human organism to be intelligent?
- What skills are needed for success in Biology?
Not only did Shashank contribute essays, he also submitted videos and a visual novel. The latter two media were a new departure for him, involving him “stepping out of his comfort zone”, as he put it.
As well as all the research, critical thinking and problem-solving he deployed across the rounds, Shashank faced the added challenge that the final round came just before his AS exams, so he had to juggle his entry with his School studies.
It was his debut in the challenge, whereas his three fellow QE entrants had all entered the previous year. Determined to build on their previous performances – when Pranay’s team finished 11th and Felix and Pranay’s team placed 17th– their combined approach this year saw them rise up the leader board to take their sixth spot.
The QE entrants were invited to a special conference and awards ceremony at Homerton, where they attended a lecture, toured the college and took part in a series of activities and puzzles.
Like their fellow competitor Shashank, Felix, Pranay and Akein are passionate about Biology, with Pranay and Akein hoping to pursue careers in medicine.