Pymble researchers present at the annual Sokratis Showcase

Have you ever wondered if ice can be mined on the moon? Or if we can learn about re-growing cells and limbs from axolotls? Or about how language shapes our thoughts? 

These are just some of the areas Sokratis students have focused on this year and we would like to celebrate their achievements in research. Sokratis students work with passion, curiosity and creativity to bring to life a project in an area of interest. 

Sokratis is a research project students complete in their own time, outside of school hours. They are given the freedom to choose any topic that interests them, which makes the outputs and journeys as diverse as the students themselves. 

Sokratis commences in February and finishes up in October annually. Students work on this area of interest and passion for the best part of a year. They see it through from idea, rigorous investigation which can involve lots of meanderings and ups and downs and leads to the production of results, conclusions and ideas presented in posters displayed in the Conde Library. They are also given an opportunity to present this work to a wider audience as part of the Three Minute Sokratis competition during the annual Sokratis Showcase. 

Students are supported by mentors throughout their journey. These are fabulous College staff who volunteer their time and skills to meet with, discuss and offer gentle guidance to the students involved in a Sokratis project. These staff come from all over the school – the Executive, Junior School and Secondary School teachers and professional services staff. In-person workshops and online resources and videos are also provided to students to help support them through the journey. 

It is a huge commitment and labour of love that these students have embarked on, and they should be so proud of what they have produced this year. Perhaps we will see some of their ideas turn into real solutions for the future or ideas that they continue to work on as they move beyond in their studies?  

If you would like to see the posters created as part of the Sokratis program, they are on display in the Conde Library right now. Come by and read about a wide range of projects, including topics in science, language and art. 

The Sokratis team 

Mx Spencer Toohey, Ms Tessa Zwar, Dr Sarah Loch and Mrs Victoria Adamovich