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EF Academy Oxford was very fortunate to host a visit by Valentina Lopez of the University of Toronto. Valentina, as an international admissions officer, visits schools around the world to talk about the university and answer questions on programs, admissions requirements and student life in the city. Valentina also has a role in transition guidance, helping international students coming from many different social and educational backgrounds progress smoothly to studies at a large university.
A number of Oxford students have gone on to attend “UofT” in the last few years including three acceptances in 2017. Javad Siahkamari, an IB Diploma student who followed our Engineering Pathway in Oxford, is now pursuing the prestigious Aerospace Engineering major, for example. Victoria Orevkova (IB Diploma: Business, Finance & Management Pathway) is studying International Business there as well.
And no wonder – Toronto is by several measures the most multicultural city in the world, and with a thriving economy and arts scene, it is an attractive destination for our globally-minded alumni. More importantly, UofT is one of the top-ranked universities in the world, regularly being featured in the QS World University rankings and consistently #1 in Canada.
Valentina gave us a taste of Toronto’s offerings – a full range of disciplines are taught, from Management to Minerals Engineering to Medieval French Literature. The main St George’s campus is downtown, with all the bustle of city life but also several residential colleges on the model of Oxbridge. Scarborough and Mississauga are more compact and have the traditional north American college feel of a place where you can study, live and socialize all on one site.
Application to Toronto is very simple – no personal statements, references or standardized tests are required: just a transcript and predicted grades. This makes things easy for your university guidance counselors! A few courses, like Engineering, do have a video response as part of the application, but this is good opportunity for the admissions staff to see you “in person” and get a feel for your potential. Not surprisingly for a top university, Toronto does ask for strong grades – typically mid 30s and up for the IB Diploma, and A/B grades for A-Level – and for really strong candidates scholarships are available.
The Toronto visit was part of a week of events at EF Academy based around our Pathway for students applying to North American universities. On Saturday, a number of students visited the Fulbright Commission USA College Day in London to meet representatives from over 150 US colleges and universities. The USA and Canada have quite different university systems from the UK, so it is important for EF Academy to provide students with the right information and support to help make successful applications.
Canadian universities have become increasingly popular with EF Academy students and it is easy to see why. As the Canadian national anthem says, plus brillants exploits!
 
Originally published October 3, 2017.

EF Academy Oxford was very fortunate to host a visit by Valentina Lopez of the University of Toronto.

University of Toronto visits EF Academy Oxford - EF Academy Blog

University of Toronto visits EF Academy Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

University of Toronto visits EF Academy Oxford

University toronto visits ef academy oxford

Every week or so, two pairs of students pit their wits against their classmates in an early-morning debate in front of the whole school to debate a pressing topical or ethical issue. The practice is inspired by the famous Oxford Union.
One of the most compelling topics in the second half of this term was: Should we use embryonic stem-cells for medical research?Although a technical topic, aimed at those students following the Pathway to university courses in Bio-Medicine, it proved a thought-provoking ethical issue for all.
Emily Törner (IB Year 1) was asked to present the arguments for stem-cell research:
I learned a lot more about ethical issues that can arise with everything we do, especially in science. I normally never think about the ethical issues when talking about science but only about the scientific possibilities, so it was nice to talk about it and to research about the different opinions. I also generally agree with everything that scientists do and I agree with everything they do. So I think it was good for me to research about this and also to listen to different argument from the opposite opinion.
My arguments were:
<ul>
<li>There are cases where the embryo is going to be destroyed anyways, so it’s more efficient to use it. One example for that is IVF (artificial fertilization), in which large numbers of unused embryos are being created, many of whose are slated for destruction, therefore it’s better to utilize them. Abortions are also legal in many countries and here it would also be better to use the embryos and not destroy them.</li>
<li>Embryos aren’t human life yet, because they are incapable of existing outside of the womb. Also, 18% of the zygotes don’t implant after conception, that means that more embryos are lost due to chance than stem cell research. Blastocysts, which embryos are made of, are a cluster of non-differentiated cells that are no more “human” than a single skin cell. Many parties also believe that human life only starts with the heartbeat in the 5th.</li>
<li>Embryonic stem cells are more useful in treatments than adult stem cells. Only minor populations of adult stem cells exist, while embryonic stem cells are easier to isolate and it’s easier to grow them in a way that’s useful for treatment. Embryonic stem cells are also not limited in the number of divisions they can make and divide more rapidly than adult stem cells, so it’s easier to produce large numbers of stem cells. They can also diversify into many different cells, which makes them better suited for treating a wide range of diseases. Adult stem cells also might not be able to treat genetic disorders, embryonic stem cells can actually be used to treat those diseases. DNA abnormalities in adult stem cells caused by toxins and sunlight also make them poorly suited for treatment, too.</li>
</ul>
Anna Julia Trento Bezerra (IB Year 1) was asked to present the arguments against stem-cell research:
The debate opened my eyes to points of view that I have never thought about. Before doing research, I used to be in favour of the use of stem cells to treat diseases because I believed that this was the best efficient option. However, when I discovered that it is possible to use other types of cell if money is invested in research, then, I switched sides to support those news researches which can avoid moral issues. (Anna Julia)
These were my arguments against the use of stem cells to treat diseases:
<ul>
<li>Embryonic Stem cells are not the only way to cure some diseases, neither is it the greater promise. Researchers using adult stem cells are 20-30 years ahead of the ones using embryonic stem cells, partly because embryonic stem cells are used to the environment of a growing embryo, and are likely to form tumours or be rejected by the patient’s immunological system.</li>
<li>Thousands of humans have already been cured by adult stem cells. It is already possible to use bone marrow cells to repair scar tissue of the heart after a heart attack.</li>
<li>There is a vast potential and enough technology to turn adult stem cells into pluripotent ones, which, therefore, would have the same effect in treating disease as embryonic. Moreover, it can be possible, in the future, to use chemicals, hormones, or elements from the cytoplasm of a woman’s egg to reprogram a somatic cell by nuclear transfer, a process called de-differentiation, and turn it into an embryonic stem cell, all that it is needed is money to be invested.</li>
<li>Then, if there is an effective way to treat diseases without using embryonic stem cells, which means a way without moral issues involved, then, it is the best way to follow. Add to it, it is undeniable that any type of human life or even anything that can be considered a human life by part of the population is more worth it than money.</li>
</ul>

Students pit their wits against their classmates in an early-morning debate in front of the whole school to debate a pressing topical or ethical issue.

To use stem-cells or not? That is the debate - EF Academy Blog

To use stem-cells or not? That is the debate ‹ EF Academy Blog

To use stem-cells or not? That is the debate

Use stem cells not debate

EF Academy Oxford students attended a talk prepared by Dr. Maria Faraone, a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Studies at Oxford Brookes University, who had been invited to share her research with students on the International Relations, Politics, Law and Economics Pathway, together with those students on the Business, Finance and Management Pathway.
EF Academy Oxford and Oxford Brookes University have strong links, with students attending lectures and events on a regular basis and also enjoying privileged access to the extensive and modern university library just across the road from the school campus. Maria came to talk to students as part of an Economic Development Day School aimed at IB and A-Level students. Maria was able to share her first-hand experience of her work in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. She worked as an architect on projects providing new housing for families displaced through the development of gold mines.
Maria explained how the gold mining companies seek out to make cutbacks on the quality of housing, just at the time they were finding more gold in the area. She continued this theme when looking at the cocoa market. Maria revealed that while a 10kg bag of cocoa beans yielded only 80 cents for the poor farmers, the real value was over $80 on the market.
A lively discussion ensued and students were extremely positive about the discussion. As a follow-up, interested students were invited to attend development seminars at Oxford Brookes University in the future.
The students thought the talk was really enlightening, helping them understand the difference in values between a good that leaves a country as a primary product and one that ends up being sold as a manufactured good all over the world like chocolate. Everyone was very impressed with the level of discussion and the prior knowledge that students had of the issues in development economics.
 
Originally published on February 1, 2018.

EF Academy Oxford students attended a talk prepared by Dr. Maria Faraone, a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Studies at Oxford Brookes University.

The real value of chocolate: Oxford students explore development economics - EF Academy Blog

The real value of chocolate: Oxford students explore development economics ‹ EF Academy Blog

The real value of chocolate: Oxford students explore development economics

Real value chocolate oxford students explore development economics

Name: Robby Ngai 
Home country: Born in Hong Kong, grew up in Canada 
Program: A-Level 
Favorite club/activity: Singers’ Club (our small student-run club) or the choir 
Favorite course: Psychology
<h3>Walk us through your decision to study abroad</h3>
It’s a neat experience to be in a different corner of the world that my family doesn’t live in. Growing up in Toronto, EF New York wouldn’t have been much of a culture shock to me, and now that I’ve been here for over a year, I know that my perspective would not be as broadened if I’d stayed in that part of the world. As well, EF New York students tend to be a bit younger, so the school felt that EF Oxford was a better fit.
<h3>What do you enjoy about the A-Level program?</h3>
It feels more university-like. There is a lot of independent learning and some of the topics are really advanced and you sometimes question if it is actually a high school curriculum. Lessons go very in-depth and that makes you grasp the subject as a whole. For example, what I’ve learned in biology has helped me understand things like nutrition in-depth, instead of only learning things at a surface level.
<h3>Why is psychology your favorite course?</h3>
I’ve always wanted to study psychology. When I was younger (and even now), I really looked up to my uncle. He had this interesting book that I couldn’t really understand, and so he explained to me that it was about psychology. I was hooked – not because I wanted to “read minds”, but simply because I wanted to better understand myself, the people I care about and the people that I didn’t understand.
<h3>What is it like learning and living with people from all around the world?</h3>
I think it makes you a kinder person and a more tolerable person. My roommate prays different times during the day and I’ve learned to be respectful and give him space. I’ve realized that some friends can’t eat pork and/or that they only eat halal meat – having this awareness that something as simple as food isn’t as straightforward for everyone and the awareness that even those who you share a room with may have vastly different beliefs to yours is important to learn.
<h3>What do you like to do in Oxford in your spare time?</h3>
I’ve loved going for Friday karaoke nights in the city or ice skating occasionally. There’s a variety of ethnic food around Oxford to enjoy as well; my Italian friend and I often find ourselves at a Korean or Japanese restaurant, and occasionally we’ll have some food from our own countries.
Being Oxford, the city has some powerful events you can be a part of, like Oxford University lectures. I attended one about vaccinations and new ways of storing vaccines – they were developing a special container that keeps the vaccines cold and sterile, which they would need in Africa when the temperatures get so hot. Recently, we visited University College London for a Maths’ Enrichment Day – we heard from students who graduated from Cambridge University and they taught us about aerospace engineering, fractals, and even the “Enigma machine”, which was used in WWII.
<h3>Why would you recommend studying at EF Academy Oxford?</h3>
I think the students here are very mature for their age. They’re very independent, yet socially acute and take academia seriously. I think it’s an environment that promotes learning, with opportunities offered by such an age-old university just a short bus ride away. The location is quaint and peaceful, even though it can rain quite a bit in the winter months.
<h3>How do you feel EF Academy is helping you explore your options for universities and programs?</h3>
I really appreciate what my counselors, Mark and Cy, have done for me. Mark is known for having a critical eye for essays and personal statements ­and Cy is the ultimate worker – he works so hard for ­the students! He was my rock and number one supporter for my university applications. He was the one that tracked down my teachers and helped me get my written recommendations, and the one that gave me confidence and the drive to get those applications done.
After all, as a university counselor, economics teacher, husband, and father, I’m sure it was nothing compared to the commitments he is faced with on a day-to-day basis. Both of my counselors always have really helpful seminars or meetings during lunch about things like applying to U.S. universities or Oxbridge, or even as a medical student. (Editor’s note: In 2017, Robby applied to schools such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, Brown, Yale, and Northwestern)
<h3>What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?</h3>
I was really surprised when I heard that I won gold in the Senior UK Math Challenge. I used to have a fervent want to pursue physics, and Maths and Physics provided a steady supply of anxiousness to me. But that might have been because I didn’t really put much pressure on myself to do well. I did it just for fun and I thought I’d be lucky to even get bronze, so with that expectation, I could think more coherently during the challenge. (Before that, I don’t think I’d ever won gold in a Maths challenge before.)
<h3>What is one goal you’d like to achieve by the end of your high school education?</h3>
I want to get better at enjoying life more while working hard towards further self-development. Granted, I’m not really a glass-half-empty kind of person even right now, but I feel like living life for the big moments as opposed to obsessing over small details is really a philosophy that I want to embrace.
 
Robby graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2017. He was offered places at Berkeley, New York University (NYU) and University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA). You can now find him studying Psychology at UCLA. Originally published November 1, 2017.

Read about EF Academy graduate Robby Ngai's experiences studying with EF Academy. You can now find him studying Psychology at UCLA.

The EF Academy experience as told by Robby Ngai - EF Academy Blog

The EF Academy experience as told by Robby Ngai ‹ EF Academy Blog

The EF Academy experience as told by Robby Ngai

Student story robby ngai

On the 27th of October, the famous physicist and cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking visited Oxford to honor the Oxford Mathematical Institute’s invitation to open a series of talks in honor of his outstanding work.
Along with our Mathematics teacher, Richard, we had the amazing opportunity of attending this enlightening conference entitled “Quantum Black Holes.” Professor Hawking talked about the formation and properties of black holes, which naturally amazed us not only for the interesting topic, of which we hear very little as high school students, but also for the clarity and coherency of the speech.
“I had known about black holes before, but I could never tell what’s going on there. It was always a big mystery. Attending this lecture, I have managed to understand their amazing and curious properties as well as the huge limitation humans live in (for now) in order to understanding them fully. This field has triggered my interest for this field and I am looking forward to reading Stephen Hawking’s famous A Brief History of Time in search for a more in-depth knowledge of this subject.” Iulia Bock, IB Year 2 Student from Romania said.
“I have never experienced a moment in my life where I felt so much respect towards one person in a room. Everyone went just quiet and all of us in the room were nervously waiting for him to start.
For me, as a philosophy student, there was a moment during the lecture where the things he said about black holes, just made me doubt everything. At the moment, I am writing an essay in philosophy on freedom and determinism. I never imagined that determinism could ever have something to do with black holes! But in the lecture, Stephen Hawking just mentioned how the whole idea of determinism – the idea that events in the universe have a cause and are fully governed by the laws of nature – does not occur. That was probably the most mind blowing moment of my life!
It is amazing how adding one more piece to our knowledge can create a whole new big picture. I will never forget the day I saw the famous Stephen Hawking, talking about black holes and that absolutely inspiring feeling I had when he entered the room.” Johanna Rosenberger, IB Year 2 Student from Germany.
… and about prime numbers!
Last Wednesday, we went on an exciting trip to Oxford University’s Mathematical Institute in the heart of the city. While the walk might have been long, the buildings and beautiful architecture alone made it worth it. Once we got there, there was already a crowd waiting inside for the public lecture that was about to be presented by Dr. Vicky Neale, Whitehead Lecturer and Fellow of Balliol College. After only 10 minutes passed, they opened the doors to the lecture hall and slowly, we made our way into the vast classroom.
Soon enough, Vicky Neale started presenting her lecture on prime numbers. Throughout the hour she discussed the many fascinating topics and theories of prime numbers. This experience gave us a broader knowledge of mathematics in a new way and inspired many of us to consider further study of mathematical-related courses.
 
By Julia Janton and Ailis Mahony, IB Year 1 Students at EF Academy Oxford

Professor Stephen Hawking visited Oxford to honor the Oxford Mathematical Institute’s invitation to open a series of talks in honor of his outstanding work.

Students Learn About Quantum Black Holes From Stephen Hawking - EF Academy Blog

Students Learn About Quantum Black Holes From Stephen Hawking ‹ EF Academy Blog

Students Learn About Quantum Black Holes From Stephen Hawking

Students learn quantum black holes stephen hawking

What is a quantum computer? How does it work and what can it do? How do you make the strongest magnetic field in the world? What’s so “super” about superconductors? Everyone, it seems, wants to know how quantum technologies will affect life in the near future. All was revealed on 17th October in “An evening of Quantum Discovery”, held in the Department of Physics, University of Oxford. But we nearly didn’t get in.
The event was open to the public, and so was very popular; the tickets were sold out before any of us could book. Fortunately, Dr. Amy Webber, our physics teacher and Head of Science, was able to secure for us some places as, before joining EF Academy Oxford, she used to be a professional researcher at the University of Oxford.
At the Physics Department’s Martin Wood complex, there were demo stalls set up, giving out information and showing prototypes of experiments and projects that had been conducted in the area of quantum physics.
My personal interests in quantum physics are computing and the data storage within it. What I’ve learned from the lecture I heard is that quantum computing has actually defied the rule of binary computing (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_completeness">Turing completeness</a>), as it is using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit">qubit units</a>. The exciting news from this research is that quantum computing has the potential to be far faster and more accurate than the typical computer. However, there’s still long way to go: the quantum computer is still only able to do simple calculation with a high probability of getting a correct answer.
We also got a chance to see a laboratory with an on-going quantum experiment and possibly the coldest place in the explored universe! The staff explained to us that the fridge for a quantum experiment has to be as near to 0 kelvins as possible (i.e. equivalent to minus 273.15 °C or minus 459.67 °F), so the particle won’t be affected by its own vibration, and so will give more accurate data.
Being able to learn directly from Oxford University researchers about the exciting new research and innovative technology development in quantum physics is such an amazing opportunity!
 
By Chalisa Ano, current IB Year 2 student at EF Academy Oxford.

What is a quantum computer? How does it work and what can it do? How do you make the strongest magnetic field in the world?

Quantum physics at the University of Oxford - EF Academy Blog

Quantum physics at the University of Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

Quantum physics at the University of Oxford

Quantum physics university oxford

A-Level Year 2 Economics students joined a lecture and discussion at the Oxford Martin School in on the Future for Women in Africa. The Martin School at the University of Oxford is a world-leading center of pioneering research that addresses global challenges.
The session was led by two expert academics, Professor Jo Boyden, Director of Young Lives and Professor Sandra Fredman, Director of the Oxford Human Rights Hub. The discussion covered a very wide range of subjects including recognition of unpaid domestic labor, the value of education for young men and women the issue of women’s rights in Africa. Students were able to link the event to the Development Economics they are currently doing in A-Level Economics.
Juhyun Rori Kim, from South Korea, A-Level Year 2 student: “It was interesting to see how development process in Africa, especially Ethiopia, is different from development process in South Asia that I have learnt before and the different obstacles they face. Furthermore, it gave me the grasp of how practice is much more difficult than just theory. I had never thought that education can affect negatively on society in some ways. It was really an amazing presentation.”
Christabel Diva Tony, from Indonesia, A-Level Year 2 student: “It was a brilliant talk: well researched and informative. The talk also gave me some information about how education is not always positively affecting the economy. For example, girls are being educated in Ethiopia using time and resources but they do not utilize the education that they have gained staying at home doing mundane housework. This means waste of resources at the end, which is negative to the economy.”
Fatimah Ibrahim, from Nigeria, A-Level Year 2 student: “One of the most interesting things we discovered was how natural disasters affected the number of early marriages in Ethiopia. It was interesting to see a connection between two things that seem unrelated. It was also good to know that school is often seen as a barrier to better work rather than a force for progression into work.”
All in all, this was a very stimulating experience that we can all gain from in a deeper understanding of Development Economics and the potential contribution that women can make to the development process if they have access to quality education and employment opportunities. Just another great example of the opportunities EF Academy Oxford students have to engage with the academic life of the university!

A-Level Year 2 Economics students joined a lecture and discussion at the Oxford Martin School in on the Future for Women in Africa.

Production, reproduction, and empowerment: The future of women in Africa - EF Academy Blog

Production, reproduction, and empowerment: The future of women in Africa ‹ EF Academy Blog

Production, reproduction, and empowerment: The future of women in Africa

Production reproduction empowerment future women africa

Archery was a really fun experience, especially in the midst of constant studying for the upcoming IB Exams. We were able to compete in groups, taking turns to shoot at four balloons and the group that was able to pop all the balloons the fastest won. My group came in second place which was great considering this was our first time. I enjoyed looking around to see how teammates would encourage each other.
There was also an individual competition and I was surprised by how well I did. It took me the first few shots to really get my aim consistent, but I found my momentum eventually! The only challenge I had was the wind. It was a little bit breezy so the arrow would sometimes move too much. When that happened, we’d just aim a little bit more carefully and everything would be fine.
Something we all enjoyed was the warm and friendly reception from the staff at the archery course. They trained us, telling us how to stay safe. They took good care of us, even though we were all a little impatient to get started. They answered all of our questions and shared a lot of funny stories from other visiting groups. Halfway through the session, they even gave us tea and biscuits.
One of the men even had a traditional bow he was firing with, made of wood. We also got the chance to see some ‘Olympic level’ archery equipment which was really cool and much more complicated in comparison to the ones we were allowed to use. They also demonstrated to us their application of these equipment allowing us to see how Olympic archers train and compete. It made me appreciate the long history of this weapon and how it has developed, but how it is only used now as an activity.
Overall, it was a really fun trip. I would definitely recommend trying archery at least once if you haven’t already!
 
Written by: Nadya Tan (IB Year 2), 
originally published April 2018

Archery was a really fun experience, especially in the midst of constant studying for the upcoming IB Exams.

Oxford takes aim - EF Academy Blog

Oxford takes aim ‹ EF Academy Blog

Oxford takes aim

From Russian dolls to Swiss chocolate, Lebanese pastries to Brazilian statuettes, Norwegian brown cheese, waffles, and jam, to Polish sweets, and, of course, the fast-disappearing dumplings from Hong Kong. This was the scene last month at EF Academy Oxford’s International Culture Fair. This highly anticipated event celebrates the different cultures within our school. This success of this year’s fair was thanks to the Student Council representatives who made sure all potential participants were aware of what was planned as well as the participants themselves for putting in the time to cook, bring or create what it was that they felt best represented their nation’s culture.
One of the representatives of the Student Council, first-year Selina Lam from Macau, said, “As it was my first Cultural Fair with the school, I was surprised that it could be so successful! Everyone who took part did a great job as the food, music, and items that represented their country made me learn a lot.”
First-year student Mumtaza Chairannisa from Indonesia said, “The culture fair was a great opportunity to share my culture and traditions with my peers and I really appreciate the positive responses to Indonesia’s heritage and cuisines. It was also very fascinating to learn about everyone’s cultures and traditions while trying out the various different dishes which I wouldn’t have been able to experience had I not participated. Overall it was wonderful and I can’t wait for next year’s fair.” Mumtaza’s stall was serving satay chicken skewers along with other Indonesian dishes, which proved very popular with the inquisitive crowd of teachers and students. The stall also featured an angklung (an Indonesian musical instrument made from carved and resonant bamboo tubes) and the most beautiful of fabrics.
Second-year student from Norway, Bror Nissen, places the importance of such an event in the context of the current economic and political climate. “In this era, international interaction is more important than ever before,” said Bror. “There are few businesses or organizations that don’t involve some sort of involvement with customers or partners from other countries. This is why it is important to have an understanding of different cultures or at least a mind that is open to understanding them.” Bror understands the fair as being a way to learn more about the culture and traditions of his peers at the same time as preparing for the future.
Ultimately in a period where everyone seems to be emphasizing borders, events such as the Cultural Fair where we attempt to understand and respect each other’s cultures are of growing importance.
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One of the representatives, Selina Lam from Macau, said, “As it was my first Cultural Fair with the school, I was surprised that it could be so successful!

Oxford students celebrate culture at annual international culture fair - EF Academy Blog

Oxford students celebrate culture at annual international culture fair ‹ EF Academy Blog

Oxford students celebrate culture at annual international culture fair

Oxford students celebrate culture annual international culture fair

On Saturday, January 20, 2018, our year 2 students organized and chaired our fourth Model United Nations (MUN) conference with another international school in Oxford. 12 of our year 1 students were the delegates in an extremely thorough Security Council debate on gun control. Nadya Tan from and Indonesia and Rebekka Kvalum from Norway were the chairs. It was their first time as chairs, and they completed their tasks with the professionalism that comes from perfect preparation.
Our year 1 students had been equally meticulous with their research. Particular delegates that stood out were Chenchen Du as the US, which received great criticism for its lax gun laws from Kiera Martin, as the Mexican delegate. Chenchen argued that it is what people do with guns that is the cause of problems rather than possession, whilst Kiera countered with clear statistics that many deaths in Mexico can be attributed to guns brought into Mexico from the US where they are freely available. Trying to find a middle way was the delegate of Russia, Boudicca Mahaseth, whose strategy was for individual countries to have the right to assert their own laws rather than a supranational agreement. Japan meanwhile, represented by Emily Torner, provided a series of evidence suggesting that strict gun laws could have a considerable impact on homicide rates.
As you can see from these examples, the depth of research on the part of our students was impressive, and this does not include the other insightful contributions from Germany (Ehtisham Chaudhary), UK (Alessandra Di Nicola), Saudi Arabia (Giorgio Cappuccinelli), Switzerland (Sara Zonza) and France (Fawwaz Nurruddin). Boudicca, Alessandra, Giorgio, Chenchen and Kiera then presented their policy statements to the entire school in our weekly assembly so that our student body could vote on whether gun laws should be stricter based on the evidence of government policy around the world. Just as the resolution was passed to have stricter gun laws in the conference, our student body overwhelmingly voted in this way as well.
What is also very clear is that we have a very talented group of year 1 MUN delegates whom Cy Webber (Head of Humanities, University Guidance Counsellor & MUN patron) hopes to take to the Cambridge University MUN in September. Their progress is undoubtedly a result of the expert tuition they have received on a weekly basis from Bror Nissen, Johanna Rosenberger and Luisa Kloth in year 2.
The MUN is not only a fantastic academic extension opportunity for EF Academy Oxford students on the International Relations, Politics, Law and Economics Pathways, but also for other students who are interested in researching, presenting and debating pressing global issues.

Our year 2 students organized and chaired our fourth Model United Nations (MUN) conference with another international school in Oxford.

Oxford holds fourth Model UN conference - EF Academy Blog

Oxford holds fourth Model UN conference ‹ EF Academy Blog

Oxford holds fourth Model UN conference

Oxford holds fourth model un conference

An unexamined life is not worth living (so Socrates said, according to Plato). And in this spirit, EF Academy Oxford’s Friends of Philosophy set out one evening in late January to hear one of the Oxford Brookes Philosophy Public Lectures – an evening with Professor Robert Stern from the University of Sheffield, who was discussing the question: ‘Too Demanding? How Much Does Morality Require of Us?’
Around 20 students interested in philosophy attended the debate, along with Oxford IB Philosophy teacher Leo Bowder, who is currently writing an IB Diploma textbook in Philosophy.
The event was hosted at the famous Oxford bookshop, Blackwell’s, which billed the event as follows: “Peter Singer has famously argued that just as a person ought to help someone whose life is threatened right in front of them, so they are under a similar obligation to help someone starving in another country; but critics have responded that this makes morality over-demanding in various ways.”
Of the event, Emma Jaffe, IB1 philosophy student (Higher Level), from Italy said, “During this debate, the main subject was morality and ethics. We went through some important ideas from the famous ethical philosopher Peter Singer. He says that if it’s in our own power to prevent any bad occurrences, we should stop it, if it doesn’t require us to sacrifice anything of comparable moral significance. We also heard about Immanuel Kant – according to him, beneficence (being good to each other) is an imperfect duty- one that we can never finish.”
“Knud Ejler Løgstrup – not a utilitarian, said that ‘the fundamental feature of human existence is that we are vulnerable and dependent creatures. This gives us power over each other and therefore we need to help others.’”
Non-philosophy IB1 student from Norway, Peter Grinde-Hollevik reflected saying, “Yesterday’s talk on moral truly awoke certain feelings of mine. The speaker was a well-known philosopher who discussed moral demands. The main thesis was well presented as follows; ‘At which stages do moral and ethics become over-demanding?’ He brought upon three different philosophers which all share certain features, but which also are divided on certain things. The most used example of this was an example of a drowning baby in a pond. Using the thesis of these different people; Peter Singer and Danish philosopher Løgstrup, and Kant, the audience experienced fluctuations of moral belief and disbelief. Because should we alwayssave that drowning baby? Some argued we should not do so” [or at least that it did not relate exactly to the obligation to give to charity].”
The next debate in the Blackwell’s Philosophy series is, “What makes a good life?” – and the Friends of Philosophy can’t wait to find out.

Around 20 students attended the debate, along with Oxford IB Philosophy teacher Leo Bowder, who is currently writing an IB Diploma textbook in Philosophy.

Oxford friends of philosophy: Morality and ethics at Blackwell’s - EF Academy Blog

Oxford friends of philosophy: Morality and ethics at Blackwell’s ‹ EF Academy Blog

Oxford friends of philosophy: Morality and ethics at Blackwell’s

Oxford friends philosophy morality ethics blackwells

At the Oxford campus, there are a lot of Biomedical Pathway talks. I was able to attend one on cancer research. It went into detail about how researchers set about designing prodrugs. These eventually turn into active drugs when they reach hypoxic tumor cells and destroy them. There was a strong emphasis on how important it is to test drugs in person and not just through computer analysis.
The speaker was Dr. Ishna Mistry, a scientist from the University of Oxford Department of Oncology. Dr. Mistry completed her undergraduate degree in Natural Science and was keen to continue learning about the interface between chemistry and biology. She was later offered a postgraduate studentship in cancer therapeutics. Her research aims to better understand the response of cancer cells in low oxygen conditions, which often occur in tumor tissue.
Her multi-disciplinary Ph.D. allows her to use a range of skills from both chemistry and biology to help develop cancer therapeutics. One such cancer she discussed during her talk was about hypoxia which is a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. With the help of prodrugs, the area of a tumor with a lower oxygen supply can be detected by the drugs, which then kills them.
Having the opportunity to attend this talk given by a world-leading expert in the field gave me an understanding of how important clinical trials are in order to develop new treatment methods and medications. I was able to see why it’s important to go beyond computer analysis and test drugs in a realistic situation – which is exactly what needs to be done in research projects.
Written by Yani Chen, 
2018 graduate of the A-Level program 
Originally published April 12, 2018

EF Academy Oxford campus was about cancer research, delivered by Dr Ishna Mistry, a scientist from the University of Oxford Department of Oncology.

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