HEADLINE NEWS
Asking the
big questions Lectures at LSE are rarely the scene of whooping and cheering but Professor Danny Quah’s Big Questions lecture was something of a departure for the School.
I
n June 150 secondary school children, from nine London schools, took part in a pilot lecture designed to introduce the social sciences to a younger audience (aged 11 to 14) in an interactive, informative and fun way. In the lecture, called “East beats West? Is the East taking over the world?”, Professor Quah (pictured), Department of Economics, tackled the issue of the rising economic power of China and other Asian countries and asked whether we should be fearful of this. Using audience participation games, demonstrations, films and interviews
with experts, Professor Quah explained what the economy is, why it matters, how global trade is changing the world and how we will need to adapt to this. “I found it hugely enriching to work at communicating to young people the excitement and the close-to-home relevance of one of the biggest economic issues of our times,” he said. “It was completely different from talking to students who, among other things, always remember they have to pass a final examination that you set. I think this kind of public lecture is an important market test for one’s ideas, and I would guess has a significance that is long-lasting regardless of what the young people in the audience go on to do in their lives.” Special thanks go to Michael-George Hemus, co-director of the electronics company Hulger, who was
interviewed by Professor Quah as part of the lecture. Hulger makes the award-winning Plumen low-energy light bulb. Mr Hemus explained why companies such as his get their products made in China and what the challenges of this are. Dr Jonathan Leape, director of LSE 100 and project director of the Big Questions lecture said: “In developing this lecture, we worked hard to simplify economic concepts and issues and convey them in interesting and novel ways. Ultimately, we want to inspire young people about the power of the social sciences to help them understand the world around them.” The lecture was filmed, which provided an extra element of excitement for the “studio audience”. The video of the lecture is available at lse.ac.uk/videoandAudio n
In developing this lecture, we worked hard to simplify economic concepts and issues and convey them in interesting and novel ways For the biggest stories from around the campus and beyond, see page 30
4
I
LSE Connect
I
Winter 2011
I
School wins an award for widening participation p
LSE rises in the rankings
p
Life through a lens: George Bernard p Shaw’s photographs