Thriving Minds Philosophy Conferences
In late July 2024, Ivanhoe Grammar School was privileged to host Julie Arliss from Oxford University, as she delivered both the Junior and Senior Thriving Minds Philosophy and Big Ideas conferences. The conferences were held at Plenty Campus and University Campus respectively, and were attended by hundreds of students and teachers from schools all over Victoria.
The Thriving Minds Philosophy Conference was an intellectually stimulating event that delved into the intricacies of epigenetics and its ethical implications; a Community of Inquiry about the Ring of Gyges; a lecture on Aristotle’s principles and the enduring debate of nature vs. nurture; and a thought-provoking debate on whether the fine-tuning of the universe suggests the existence of a god. I found the conference to be incredibly enriching, offering deep insights and fostering lively discussions on these profound topics. Hugo, Year 9
The Thriving Minds conference was a truly interesting experience. With many topics and questions that kept us thinking, I felt as though I was branching out of my normal learning environment just by participating. My favourite section was when Julie Arliss discussed Aristotle’s thoughts about what makes something good, this was because it delved into what seems like an impossible question, and yet ended up having a very simple answer. Charlotte, Year 9
My favourite topic was epigenetics, which delved into how gene expression is influenced by external factors without changing the DNA sequence. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity to collaborate with students from other schools. Together, we tackled fascinating philosophical problems, such as defining what is “right” and “wrong.” This collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment not only broadened my understanding of complex subjects but also fostered meaningful discussions that challenged my perspectives and deepened my appreciation for interdisciplinary learning. Michael, Year 9
The Thriving Minds Philosophy conference covered a wide range of interesting subjects and was an insightful event that I am very grateful to have attended. One of the day’s highlights was participating in the community of inquiry where we spoke about ethical concerns of the story, the ring of Gyges. This was done in groups of students, each student from different schools creating a great bonding experience. All in all, the conference was enlightening, providing profound understanding and stimulating thought-provoking discussions. Riley, Year 9
The ‘Thriving Minds – Senior Conference’ was an incredible experience in which students from both Plenty and Ridgeway campuses met with many other secondary schools at La Trobe’s West Lecture Theatre. We sat for three lectures about philosophy given by Julie Arliss, a faculty member at Oxford University. Although there was much to learn from each talk, my favourite presentation was ‘Tell us about the light bulb’. This is because we learnt how to answer a sample Oxbridge Interview question and why top universities ask applicants these difficult questions, which was useful for our future tertiary education. We also had the opportunity to get into groups with students from six different schools and discuss the ancient text. ‘The Ring of Gyges’ was related to the modern ethics of CCTV cameras. Overall, it was an amazing day with much knowledge gained and a nostalgic lunch break at the Agora brought back memories from studying at the University Campus. I am really excited to see what topics will be discussed in next year’s philosophy conference. Jahnavi, Year 10
