The final lectures in The Queen’s School 2025 Academic Lecture Programme offered students the unique opportunity to explore the connections between ancient cultures and cutting-edge scientific research. From the timeless lessons of Greek and Roman mythology to the innovative advancements in chemical engineering, these talks provided a fascinating blend of history and modern-day industry, highlighting the broad range of academic pursuits available to young women in today’s world.
Classics Academic Lecture
The crossover between Ancient Greek and Roman culture was the focus for a fascinating lecture by one of the UK’s leading classical scholars.
Professor Zahra Newby revealed the ways that many Roman artists and sculptures had turned to Greek myths and legends to communicate important messages about Roman life and society.
“Romans often used their art for educational reasons or to warn people about the dangers of ‘hubris’ or arrogance,” said Professor Newby, from the University of Warwick.
“Sometimes the mythology that is shown is just fantasy and escapism but on other occasions it gives exemplars for Roman virtues and values.”
Prof Newby illustrated her talk with a range of spellbinding images ranging from statuary from the Sperlanga cave visited by the Emperor Tiberius to recently excavated wall paintings in Pompeii.
“The myths shown are often quite dark but the idea was they would form a focus for discussion for people visiting the house for dinner.”
“The story of the murder of Niobe’s children for example was often used as a warning about hubris or overconfidence.”
It was also great to see a lot of keen classicists from lower years joining the talk to expand their classical knowledge.
Chemical Engineering Academic Lecture
The final lecture of the series saw one of the UK’s leading chemical engineers provide an insight into how chemical processes and understanding underpin a huge amount of the technology and products that surround us every day.
Associate Professor John Turner revealed the huge breadth of the chemical engineering industry using both petrol companies and food production companies as examples of pathways students can take into an engineering career.
He also unpacked how chemical engineers use well-known chemical processes – such as the Haber cycle – to scale up and make feasible the production of chemicals such as ammonia on an industrial scale.
Mr Turner, who is also director of student experience in The University of Nottingham’s School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering , went on to outline the opportunities for pupils taking STEM subjects at Nottingham including the facilities and industrial placements available.
The lecture was the final talk in the Queen’s School 2025 Academic Lecture Programme which seeks to give sixth form and other girls lower down the school the chance to get a feel for university level study and learn about cutting edge academic research.
The lectures exemplify The Queen’s School’s commitment to nurturing intellectual curiosity and preparing students for the rigors of higher education. The programme has provided invaluable insights and inspirations, empowering our students to embark confidently on their academic journeys and embrace their roles as future leaders and innovators.