Students at The Queen’s School have once again been captivated by two thought-provoking Academic Lectures, delving into the mysteries of biodiversity and the complexities of empathy.
Leading UK ecologist Dr Ellie Harrison offered a fascinating insight into the incredible diversity of life on our planet while highlighting the urgent threats many species face. She also revealed the vast gaps in human knowledge regarding the sheer number of life forms that may exist.
“The fact is, we have no real idea how many species the Earth may have. The best estimate is around 30 million, but no one really knows,” explained Dr Harrison, a lecturer in Ecology at Keele University.
She emphasised the crucial role biodiversity plays in human life, particularly in medicine, as many essential drugs originate from plants and other natural sources. Dr Harrison also explored ways to combat species loss, from reintroducing key species like beavers to create wetland habitats to building climate-resilient landscapes.
The week prior, students welcomed leading UK philosopher Professor Thomas Schramme, who explored the fascinating topic of empathy. His lecture challenged common assumptions about understanding and sharing emotions with others.
“Can we ever truly know what someone else is experiencing? The reality is, we can never fully access another person’s mind,” said Professor Schramme, a philosophy professor at the University of Liverpool.
He explained the distinction between basic empathy – such as reading facial expressions such as smiling to indicate happiness – and affective empathy, where we believe we can share in another person’s emotions.
He also discussed the positive impacts of empathy – such as how it helps with acknowledging the importance of people around us but also that empathy can be a negative in certain situations.
“We all know the feeling of wanting to be alone, shutting the world out,” he noted. “In those moments, we may not want others to share in our experiences.”
These lectures form part of a dynamic series introducing students in Years 10–12 to university-style learning. The programme not only broadens their academic horizons but also supports Year 12 students as they consider their future university courses through UCAS.
With expert insights into both the natural world and the human mind, these lectures left students with fresh perspectives and plenty to reflect on.