It was a rainy Wednesday evening when 11 of our most talented mathematicians, scientists and debaters from Year 9, 10 and 11, boarded the bus traveling to the University of Sydney for a chance to be involved in National Science Week activities. Together with our resident Maths savant, Mrs Sandra Hackett and myself, we were headed to a two-pronged extension event held by the Faculties of Mathematics and Science.
The first of two events was a small-group seminar focused on the concept of infinity from a Mathematical perspective. Purported to be one the most difficult concepts to grapple with, the boys relished the opportunity to work with Milena Radnovic who is Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University in Sydney.
Second on the agenda, and the main event for the evening, was the Species Showdown Debate held in the illustrious Great Hall on campus. Hosted by Associate Professor Alice Motion with special guest researchers from the Faculty of Science, three debates unfolded for the students including:
• Debate 1: EARTH vs SPACE
We should stop the search for life on other planets and protect the species we have here on Earth.
• Debate 2: JURASSIC PARK vs NOAH’S ARK
Bring back the Tasmanian Tiger or save the Tasmanian Devil?
• Debate 3: HUMAN INTELLIGENCE vs ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The robots are coming, resistance is futile, and they will be smarter than us.
Whilst the argument ranged from candid and pragmatic to highly esoteric, the highlight for the students was watching our very own Lucas Di Fazio proudly represent our College in a charades showdown giving us an epic impression of a robot.
As we returned along the ivy-framed streets of USYD campus to our precision reverse-parked bus, we reflected on all we had learned and gained by not only merging into the general audience of high fliers from the country’s oldest university, but also witnesses the depth, complexity and humanity of our best and brightest minds in the country working towards a sustainable future for us all.