Horizons Vol 3 - The Lingfield College Academic Scholars Magazine 2023-24 Year 10

BROADENING PERSPECTIVES THROUGH ACADEMIC EXPLORATION

Introduction

As part of our work in stretching and challenging our most able pupils, all Academic Scholars at Lingfield College in Years 7-10 write a research essay on a topic of their choice In conjunction with the scholars sessions and annual scholars trip, the essay encourages pupils’ intellectual curiosity and provides them with an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and excel in a topic that they are passionate about. The essay is investigative in nature and enables pupils to develop an array of skills including research, time management, evaluation and critical thinking

We also offer an EPQ club to Year 8 on Thursdays and Tuesdays for Year 10 scholars. The EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is a qualification rewarded by the examining body AQA which supports students in writing their scholars essay and results in them receiving a Level 1 or Level 2 EPQ qualification for their work

As well as writing about their chosen topic, pupils who enrol in the EPQ club complete the following:

Project proposal

Research into primary and secondary sources

Producing a written report

Creating a bibliography and appendix

Creating and maintaining a production log

"I am absolutely delighted with the quality of this year ’ s entries Their topics are forward thinking, challenging, and their research is extensively evaluated to draw viable conclusions "

Evaluating the project in a written and a verbal presentation

Well done to each and every one of the Academic Scholars for their outstanding entries I look forward to celebrating with you all at this year ’ s Scholars Symposium on 19th June, where will announce the prize-winner of

TO WHAT EXTENT CAN SOMEONE REDEEM THEMSELVES IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC?

TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE DEATH PENALTY BE BANNED?

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES CIVIL ENGINEERING AFFECT CLIMATE CHANGE? 18 HOW DO VALUES AND BELIEFS INFLUENCE THE CONTROVERSY OVER CLONING AND GENETIC ENGINEERING?

22 NATURE VERSUS NURTURE – TO WHAT EXTENT IS ALCOHOLISM A GENETIC TRAIT? 26 SHOULD SELF-INFLICTED ILLNESSES BE TREATED BY THE NHS? 31 TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD NICOTINE AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS BE OUTLAWED IN THE UK?

OUR YOUNG EMERGING WRITERS

TO WHAT EXTENT CAN SOMEONE REDEEM THEMSELVES IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC?

WRITTEN BY AARON C

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

IIn the early 2000s, with a follow-up period of 2 years, England and Wales had a recidivism (re-offending) rate of ~59%. At a similar time, with the same 2-year followup period, Norway had a recidivism rate of only 20%, nearly a third that of England and Wales. (Fazel, S., 2015) The main reason for this: their vastly different prison systems. Norway maintains a focus on rehabilitating inmates by letting them live as though they are normal civilians, in the hope that when they do return to society, they do not have many problems readjusting. In the UK, however, criminals often have difficulties finding a job or reconnecting with their families, friends and other members of the public due to the isolating, restricting nature of the prisons in which they are held

It is shown here that, in the right conditions, a criminal can be taught how to live among civilians, and once they are released, said civilians can allow them to thrive, removing the need to resort back to crime Evidently, people can learn to forgive, but what does it take from an offender to earn this forgiveness? One can imagine that the severity of the crime plays a role in the extent to which a person can be redeemed in the eyes of others, but what other factors are at play? For example, would someone who was raised in poverty and forced to steal to survive be more likely to earn this forgiveness than someone who stole merely for their own amusement? To answer this question, we must first clearly understand what it means to be ‘redeemed’ in the public's eyes.

What Does It Mean to Be Redeemed in the Eyes of the Public?

Ultimately, the concept of redemption, or the act of redeeming oneself is a social construct, which was invented by humans and thus one is only ‘redeemed’ if others recognise them as such Unfortunately, this means that it is more or less impossible to quantify, and hence say with 100% certainty whether someone has been redeemed or not, due to differing morals between different people To some, redemption may involve more than just reintegrating into society, and to others, redemption may be just that We can, however, use what the majority thinks to determine:

Who deserves to redeem themselves. 1. How they can be recognised as redeemed 2.

With this in mind, I conducted a survey with a sample size of forty-six pupils aged 11-17 years, gathering responses to questions about their beliefs about redemption The first question asked the participants if they believed that humans are worthy of second chances Their response to this question would let us know, from the very beginning, whether they think that someone should even be given the chance to redeem themselves Below is how they responded:

The responses show that 44 out of the 46 that participated (approximately 96%) believe that people are deserving of second chances From this, there is a clear indication that the majority accept that someone who has done wrong can achieve redemption and reform themselves, and most are willing to forgive given the correct conditions are met

The second question expanded on the first, asking the respondents whether they believed that – provided they answered ‘ yes ’ to the first question – there was a limit to deserving a second chance This would show whether they thought that some crimes were simply too immoral for the offender to be redeemed, regardless of what they try to do to atone For example, whilst a shoplifter may be dealt an attempt to reintegrate and function as any other member of society would, a serial killer would not warrant the same level of sympathy or mercy from any court or government. Below is how they responded:

Out of the 44 that answered ‘ yes ’ to the first question, 42 ( 95%) said that they believed there was a limit to deserving a second chance Given this information, we know that the majority of people think that only some can redeem themselves, and it is simply out of the question for others, who have committed more significant, impactful crimes.

The third and fourth questions asked the participants to explain how they think the UK should focus its justice system: on punishment or rehabilitation?

Surprisingly, a much smaller majority argued for a justice system rehabilitating and re the previous questio be due to being ill-i effects that this syst criminal’s state of m answer in favour of prioritised was the c offending, which we decreases outside o system.

Arguably, the result could also suggest that most would consider someone redeemed by just acting as another civilian for the rest of their life, shown by the fact that they would be content to accept rehabilitated convicts back into society

Common responses in favour of a system centred around punishment included phrases to the same effect of:

‘Offenders will not learn from their mistakes.’

‘Those who wish to cause harm to others must be reprimanded for their actions.’

‘Crime without a convincing reason deserves to be punished.’

On the other hand, the responses in favour of a system centres around rehabilitation included phrases to the same effect of:

Offenders that commit minor crimes that cause no significant harm to others deserve to get help ’

Rehabilitation will help offenders realise what they have done wrong and help them to function as a normal person ’

Punishment will only breed more anger and violence ’

Overall, the survey showed that the vast majority believe that criminals are capable of redeeming themselves, given that the crime(s) they have committed are not above a certain level of immorality In addition, the majority, albeit a smaller one, believe that one can redeem themselves by simply gaining a moral compass, and by not acting out of line again

To What Extent Is Rehabilitation and Reintegration a Viable Method of Redeeming an Incarcerated Individual in The Eyes of The Public?

As mentioned in the introduction, Norway has been able to keep its recidivism rate as one of the lowest in the world, due much in part to its prison system, which is vastly different to those of most other western nations Instead of focusing on punishment during incarceration, Norway uses a process comprised of rehabilitation, education, normalisation and reintegration to ensure that those who have served their sentences find it as easy as possible to readjust to life outside of prison

The rehabilitation aspect of the process is where troubled or disturbed individuals are helped to understand where they began to go wrong, and how they can change, in order to prevent themselves reoffending. At this stage, one ’ s ability to change their personality traits is most important, as someone who is rigid in the way they think will find great difficult in understanding why they are wrong and will be more likely to reoffend when they finish serving their sentence However, I will discuss more about changing personality traits later

Next, is the education element of the system. Here, inmates are taught new, valuable skills that will help them attain degrees and other higher qualifications when they re-enter society This way, in theory, they will be more likely to gain employment through their aptness for the job and be less hindered by their criminal record However, studies have shown that, in reality, it usually takes around 2 5 years for just 30% of released inmates to find employment

The normalisation part of the process comes from the nature of the prisons themselves, which are set up to look and act like life outside of prisons

One way in which they achieve this is through their openness: families of inmates are allowed and encouraged to visit with relative frequency and maintain contact with the inmate In some cases, inmates are even allowed to return home for six days after staying in prison for six months The rationale behind this being that if inmates can maintain stable relationships and function inside of the prison while serving their sentence, they will find less difficulty readjusting

Finally, there is the reintegration of incarcerated individuals, which should not be misconstrued with the ‘re-entry’ phase. The latter refers simply to the act of leaving prison and returning to society Instead, reintegration refers to the “individual’s reconnection with the institutions of society, which can be described not only as a process, but as a goal for released inmates ” (Denny, M , 2016)

Overall, this method of dealing with criminals proves to be an effective, humane way of controlling recidivism rates and helping incarcerated individuals find employment and stability after leaving prison. Additionally, it is greatly beneficial for the government of Norway too More highly skilled individuals in the workforce can increase production and efficiency in the economy, improving it as a result

Do

the

Factors That Cause

Someone to Commit a Crime Affect the Extent to Which They Can Be Redeemed in the Eyes of Others?

In this chapter, I will discuss the effect that some of the factors that are purported to cause crime have on someone ’ s ability to redeem themselves, but first, I would like to look at the two different approaches to explaining crime: Individualism and Collectivism On the one hand, individualists in crime are those who

believe that individual choices are the sole reason for a crime being committed; if someone has committed a crime, they have chosen to do so, and it is their responsibility

On the other hand, collectivism is the belief that crimes are committed as a result of inequality in society, and that those who are treated unequally will be left more vulnerable and more susceptible to being influenced into criminal behaviour This is not to say that criminals should not be held accountable for their actions, however it does give an explanation as to why a sane, innocent-seeming person would commit a crime In an instance such as this, it would be sensible to think that this offender would be easier to reason with and rehabilitate, as even those who appear to have a strict set of morals can sometimes be forced to go against them

One of the most researched and wellknown theories about the cause of criminal behaviour is the concept of ‘nature vs nurture ’ In essence, the theory revolves around crime either being a result of the way someone ’ s brain has been wired to work since birth or early childhood (nature), or as a result of how someone is affected by their environment (nurture) For example, crime rates tend to be higher for young people, because their brains have not developed enough to fully understand and respect a strict set of morals and principles The nurture argument aligns with some of the beliefs of collectivism; that someone might be more likely to commit a crime because of their environment (i e living in poverty, dysfunctional households, etc )

In 2019, the Scottish Prison Service 17th Prisoner Survey asked some inmates to identify some of the factors that they believe contributed to them wanting to commit a crime (shown on page 8)

The survey shows that a significant percentage of inmates believe that their criminal behaviour could be, in part, attributed to the world around them, and not solely to their own choice and desire to commit a crime.

The relevance that this has in finding the extent to which someone can be redeemed is that if some are pushed to commit a crime due to the struggle they live in, then perhaps in a more welcoming, safer environment, they will thrive, and they may achieve such in a system that rehabilitates and reintegrates them into society However, this raises a question: if someone has already turned to crime, is it possible to pull them back out of it?

To What Extent Can Someone’s Personality Traits Change?

For many years, most people accepted that your personality traits were something that you could not change However, recently, due to the vast amount of research done on personality and the human mind in recent years, the possibility that, through major events in your life or persistent intervention, your personality traits being able to change and evolve has become more popular.

If we define a ‘personality trait’ as an enduring pattern in the way in which one thinks, feels and reacts to certain situations, then it is likely that these can be changed throughout your life This is shown in practice, through methods such as psychotherapy, which aim to alter the way that someone responds to certain situations for the better In fact, this can even be achieved without any kind of intervention or major life event, such is the case with the maturation of teenagers and young adults Here, the development of the brain changes a person ’ s responses to the same situations

Considering this, it would be reasonable to suggest that the same changes in emotional response could be seen in an incarcerated individual This means that those who have found themselves in prison due to a lack of stability in their lives beforehand, and not necessarily a complete lack of morality, can be treated to function as anybody else would in a safe environment Furthermore, it may also be possible to nurture even some of the more disturbed inmates to a healthy state of mind Although, these cases may be exceedingly rare, and these individuals may be shunned by society regardless, considering what they might have done to have ended up in prison

Conclusion

In conclusion, given most people would be willing to accept rehabilitated inmates back into society and into the workforce, we can assume that reintegration is the true point of redemption. Recognising the human tendency to sympathise with those who fall to addiction, suffer in poverty, succumb to peer pressure, or who may not entirely be at fault in any way - whilst those who have committed more severe or heinous crimes may never be able to physically redeem themselves - those who are able regain their morality, learn new skills and maintain their relationships can truly, fully redeem themselves in the eyes of others

TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE DEATH PENALTY BE BANNED?

WRITTEN BY HARRY C

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

In this essay I am aiming to decide on whether capital punishment should be either abolished or kept in today’s world. There are many mixed views on this subject of which I aim to explain and use to present this question This topic is truly relevant today as we are always hearing about criminals on ‘Death Row’ continuously presenting the question on whether they deserve it or if they are even guilty of the crime they’re accused of. My dad met someone who works on death row, and they said, ‘I’d rather kill 4 guilty people and 1 innocent person then all the guilty people weren’t killed’.

This is why I chose to write about this topic – I want to find out other people's views on the subject and how it can affect people’s lives, as well as this, I am extremely interested in Crime and Punishment, so this essay helps me explore my interests I am going to research the history, morality as well as public opinions of the death penalty. I chose to do EPQ as I think it will look great on my CV as well as it is helping me learn more about my interest in crime and punishment – including the death penalty

History of the death penalty

It is thought that capital punishment can date back to the 18th century BC, in ancient Chinese laws Since then, it has featured in most societies, with the first death penalty being recorded in 16th century BC in ancient Egypt‘where the wrongdoer, a man of nobility, was accused of magic, and ordered to take his own life ’ (Laura E Randa – Society's Final Solution: A History and Discussion of the Death Penalty) Later, more civilisations would adopt this form of punishment I e The Hittite Code adopted it in the 14th century BC, as well as the Draconian Code of Athens in the 7th century BC, and The Roman law of the twelve tablets introduced the death penalty in the 5th century BC. However, the punishment was different for nobility, freemen, and slaves ‘and was punishment for crimes such as the publication of libels and insulting songs, the cutting or grazing of crops planted by a farmer, the burning [of] a house or a stack of corn near a house, cheating by a patron of his client, making disturbances at night in the city, wilful murder of a freeman or a parent, or theft by a slave’ (Laura E Randa – Society's Final Solution: A History and Discussion of the Death Penalty)

In Britain, by about 450 BC the death penalty was carried out by throwing the criminal into a quagmire By the 10th century AD, the most popular punishment was being hung from gallows In the 1700’s 222 crimes were punishable by death During this time Britain had a substantial influence on its colonies making many other nations adopt the death penalty (e g the United States of America) However, in 1823 many laws were passed removing about 100 crimes from this list Later, in 1840 there was a failed attempt to remove the form of punishment. However, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries capital punishment in Europe began to phase out with only a few counties in Europe still having it

In America, the first recorded execution was in 1608 In 1622 the first legal killing of a criminal took place in Virginia All the states had (and still have) different crimes punishable by death, despite this, states still have common crimes worthy of the punishment. These include rape, assault, murder and arson – just to name a few. All states had various levels of leniency and severeness, meaning in one state you might get away with a crime you would be punished for in another state This is part of the reason parts of the USA still have capital punishment in place (only twentyseven states still have it) as all the states have different views on the issue and whether they still need a capital punishment Obviously, this is just one example of the influence on colonies from European colonisers as there are many more countries effected by this

Issues with capital punishment

It is commonly accepted that the death penalty is seen as very as ‘cruel and inhumane’ (The Advocates for human rights – Death Penalty issues) This is because many believe that ending one ’ s life is too far, and that everybody deserves second chances In addition, capital punishment is very cruel as the ‘unique physical and mental trauma associated with the time leading up to and actual infliction of this punishment-make the death penalty , degrading and inhumane’ (The Advocates for human rights – Death Penalty issues)

For example, in the US Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibits ‘cruel and unusual’ punishments, which, as shown in the example above, should ban the death penalty in all states across America due to the fact that the trauma in the run up to the day of the punishment is ‘cruel’. As well as this, it can be seen as ‘unusual’ as many of the crimes punishable by death tend to be based around the harm to others in the US, such as rape and murder It can be seen as ‘unusual’ to kill someone else, especially if they are being killed for killing someone else

However, the main issue with capital punishment must be how many innocent people are prosecuted It is well known that the legal system has a lot of room for human error, with possible faults such as, inadequate legal representation, misused/faulty evidence, eyewitnesses identifying the wrong people and, sometimes even prejudice, on behalf of prosecutors, juries and judges who based of a defendant’s appearance, or beliefs will instantly see them as guilty

Again, showing how unreliable the death penalty can be, you could put an innocent person to death – with the real criminal having no consequence to their actions.

Advantages of Capital Punishment

Despite what's been established above capital punishment also has many advantages One of these advantages is that the offender loses the ability to reoffend, as the BBC said ‘The offender may no longer be a danger to the public, but he remains a danger to prison staff, and other inmates Execution removes that danger ’ as well as also saying, ‘real justice requires people to suffer for their wrongdoing, and to suffer in a way appropriate for their crime ’ (BBC Ethics – Arguments in favour of capital punishment)

This is basically saying that if someone was to murder somebody else – they deserve to be killed as the punishment would match the severity of the crime This argument is called Retribution and is one of the main arguments for the death penalty. The idea behind retribution is that ‘all guilty people deserve to be punished’, ‘only guilty people deserve to be punished’ and ‘guilty people need to be punished in proportion to severity to their crime’ (BBC Ethics – Arguments in favour of capital punishment) This argument is seen as exceptionally good as many people will find that their idea of justice coincides with what this idea argues

Another argument in favour of Capital Punishment is that it can help police. This is because of ‘plea bargaining’, which is where a criminal can reduce their sentence in exchange for helping the police This favours capital punishment because if the possible sentence is death, a criminal will be willing to help the police to lower their sentence, even if it's just life in prison, they would rather live in a cell then die, therefore – more often than not, the police are greatly helped by the fear of execution on the offenders’ behalf

Morals of Capital Punishment: There are differing opinions when it comes to whether capital punishment is moral or not The main reason capital punishment is defended is because ‘society has a moral obligation to protect the safety and welfare of its citizens’ (Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez – Capital Punishment: Our Duty or Our doom?) This supports capital punishment because the only way to make sure murderers (for example) aren’t able to re-offend is that they are put to death In addition, capital punishment helps society as it can decrease rates of violent crimes This is because, ‘ common sense tells us that if people know they will die if they perform a certain act, they will be unwilling to perform this act ’

If we were to completely abolish the death penalty – therefore, it may cause the murders of many innocent people who may have otherwise survived if the fear of death for carrying out this murder was still in place Finally, ‘justice is demands that those convicted of heinous crimes of murder be sentenced to death...It is unjust when a criminal deliberately and wrongly inflicts greater losses on others than he or she has to bear’ (Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez – Capital Punishment: Our Duty or Our doom?) This therefore coincides with the idea of retribution (discussed above) and explains that if a criminal were to commit murder, then they deserve the same punishment – as previously said by Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez, if they didn’t then it wouldn’t be a proper fulfilment of justice.

However, there is also a case to be made against capital punishment The main basis around this is that society has a moral obligation to conserve human life ‘The taking of human life is permissible only if it's a necessary condition of achieving the greatest balance of good over evil for everyone involved’ (Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez – Capital Punishment: Our Duty or Our doom?) Therefore, if there was a less severe alternative to the death penalty (i e prison or rehabilitation) then we must use it as it is the best possible good to evil ratio we can make out of the situation Therefore, saying that the death penalty should be banned as it doesn’t make the best possible outcome for everyone involved

Public opinion on capital punishment:

Public opinion on the issue is very mixed Some people completely agree with capital punishment and that if held accountable some crimes are definitely punishable by death and others would say the exact opposite and conclude that no matter what your crime is nobody deserves to die and therefore the best possible outcome of good over bad is created

As well as this, many sit on the fence and have absolutely no opinion on the subject For example, a 2010 survey in Japan suggests that people are in favour of capital punishment with a total of 65 2% thinking this way A further 26 1% didn’t have an opinion or were in the middle, and therefore the rest thought that the death penalty should be abolished (figures from - Public opinion and the death penalty in Japan – Vivianna Andreescu and Tom “Tad” Hughes April 1st, 2020)

This shows that in Japan the death penalty is very much in favour, however the article also stated ‘The results of the multinomial logistic regression show that residents who did not express agreement or disagreement for the death penalty have more in common with those who oppose capital punishment than with those who favour it and suggesting support for the death penalty in the country may not be as strong as previously claimed by the Japanese government – especially with the rise of abolitionist groups in the country meaning soon the country may choose to abolish capital punishment entirely

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have decided to a small extent that the death penalty should not be banned This is because I believe that if a criminal was to murder somebody else then it is only fair if they themselves are killed as a consequence to their actions As well as this, if a country has capital punishment in place, then many murderers are less likely to kill – as they don’t want to be killed themselves

However, I don’t think we can carry out with the death penalty for all murders

This is because you must have no doubts that the criminal convicted has carried out the crime that they have been convicted of (i e video or photographic evidence) or there is a risk of killing an innocent person

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES CIVIL

ENGINEERING AFFECT CLIMATE CHANGE?

WRITTEN BY HARVEY H

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

As escalating environmental concerns continue to rise on a global scale, the connection between civil engineering and climate change Is recently being debated wherever civil engineering has become subjected to be a primary cause of the new challenges countries have to face all over the world due to earth's average temperature increasing from roughly “2-degrees Fahrenheit (1 degrees Celsius) since the pre-industrial era (1850-1900)” The change in earth's average temperature forces the average 20th-century temperature of “13.9 degrees Celsius to increase by 1.18 degrees Celsius”, creating significant steps for accumulated heat

Global average surface temperature

As seen above, the average temperature over time has significantly skyrocketed post-1980 with minimal signs of dropping again, further creating a steeper slope as years increase, presenting threatening stats for Earth As shown, preindustrial era the average was cooler than expected, demonstrating how the introduction of new technology, burning of fossil fuels, and human-made greenhouse gases are further impacting the change.

Problems faced by global warming- why I chose the relationship between civil engineering and climate change

However, with climate change being a new topic of interest and concern, it has encountered many problems due to what seems like a minor increase in average temperature Most of these problems result in effects on the environment which include: “Glaciers and ice sheets shrinking, rivers and lakes breaking up earlier, plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting” (Effects - NASA Science) Furthermore, long-term global effects predicted by scientists have been seen to already start creating a bigger concern, “accelerating sea level rises, longer and more intense heat waves, drought and extreme rainfall”( Effects - NASA Science)

Although embracing the changes created by climate change it is imperative to find the main sources of damage to the climate and act fast moulding them to be more climate resilient After careful research, I have decided to examine the role played by civil engineering towards climate change

The raw materials used for infrastructure, urban planning, and the reformation of buildings, bridges, roads, etc not only create masses of CO2 emissions but further damage the environment through fundamental processes including deforestation In addition, many more procedures like transportation emissions contribute to two main factors, disruption of ecosystems and emissions

How to conclude “To what extent” Nevertheless, to reach my conclusion of “To what extent” I will compare the negative impacts of civil engineering to the positive contributions civil engineering has concerning climate change. Post realization of the impact generated by civil engineering towards climate change, Civil engineering industries have become one of the most reactive and productive in hopes of amending damage done Continuous restrictions are being put into place to attempt to tackle goals, 5 of these goals include: “Reducing carbon, making infrastructure resilient to more extreme weather events, design with the

consideration of sustainability, promoting active travel, providing essential services and most importantly take part in the UN sustainability Development Goals”

By examining the contribution of civil engineering, I aim to present my view on the interplay of civil engineering and climate change and present a non-biased conclusion from all research done throughout my project

Chapter 1 – Climate change

What is climate change- why is average temperatures rising?

Climate change is a “change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular, a change apparent from the late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels” Oxford Languages | The Home of Language Data (oup com) Although being essential to life, we humans while being unaware, have turned our climate into what we feared Increased temperature has led to mass destruction all over the world From extreme droughts to common wildfires But why didn’t this use to happen? Simple, the industrial era This era involved the process of transforming society and economies from farming and crafts to machines and factories, despite being one of the greatest turning points in the history of mankind, like with everything, it came with its weaknesses

Impact of the industrial era

CO2 emissions, the biggest problem that arose from the Industrial Revolution, due to the mass burning of coal as a fuel source As a result of its usefulness to “ power new factories, ships, and trains, smelt iron and provide heat for many homes” (little, 2023) It quickly became popular and spread from England to the whole of “Europe, Asia and the United States” (little, 2023) This therefore created a chain effect leading to deforestation as trees held CO2 Deforestation mainly occurred in North America, however gathered by Britain (Colonial Conquest) Deforestation released an abundance of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere but with little realization or care from colonies due to no present effects because of the beginning of temperature change, colonies mass-produced everything to extreme extents, primarily due to hunger for money and power

Industrial revolutions impact on modern society- dangers and hazards

Now in the fifth industrial revolution, we are starting to see the effects of the increase in average temperature due to climate change This increase in temperature forces economies all over the world to adapt to these changes As precipitation patterns change and the overall world gets warmer it creates greater hazards and risks within our planet The consequences of increased climate change can lead to constant inconvenience and hazards e g extreme heat, flooding, vector-borne infection, food-related infection, and a negative change in mental health and well-being

If we investigate in detail one simpler hazard like flooding, the climate driver is the rise in sea level and more frequent or intense extreme precipitation, hurricanes, and storm surge events, then leading on to the exposure which is contaminated water, debris, and disruption to essential infrastructure, which ties onto the health outcome being potential drowning, injuries, mental health consequences,

gastrointestinal and other illnesses The impact relates to health as the increased coastal and inland flooding exposes populations to a range of negative health impacts before, during, and after the event

Effect on health due to climate change:

It has existed for centuries, tracing back to the earliest civilizations, however, in relevance to climate change, I will primarily focus on 18-1900s and onwards

Ancient civil engineering - between 4000 and 2000 BC

Many of these hazards share the same themes of injuries, illnesses, or death, however brutal it might sound climate change, although not potentially seen or has an immediate impact, has a significant importance As a case study shows on November 8th, 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan was a breakthrough in natural disasters, the storm hit the lands of the Philippines tearing apart buildings and leaving entire provinces without power or communication, it was a 370-mile-wide storm 3 5 times more as strong as Hurricane Katrina, winds reached 195 mph with gusts reaching 235 mph and walls of water at least 15 feet swept over. 920,00 were displaced and over 11.8 million people were affected by the storm A further 3850 were injured and 77 were reported missing This is a result of increased climate change

Chapter 2-Civil engineering - What is civil engineering?

Civil engineering Is the “branch of engineering concerned with the design and maintenance of roads, bridges, dams, and similar structures” (Oxford Language Dictionary).

Being one of the key fundamentals of civil engineering dates far back into ancient civilizations, “the earliest evidence can be found in the ancient Near East, where the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians “lived, to which they built colossal structures like “The Great Pyramids of Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon”

Dating back this far civilizations didn’t have any technology, just raw materials, and simple tools, including brick, wood, hammers, and chisels Further along the timeline (still in ancient civil engineering), engineers became more ambitious beginning to be introduced to new structures including gothic cathedrals, castles, chapels, and colosseums while still suffering with basic tools forcing projects to be long, tiring, and practically impossible However, their perseverance and dedication plus the access to slaves, allowed them to create monumental structures like the “Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum in Rome”

Middle aged civil engineering - 5th to the late 15th century

After this came the Middle Ages, within this age many continents adopted Roman Empire engineering techniques including Europe, The Middle East, and North America These new techniques and projects include “the construction of roads, bridges, watermills, and windmills” (Baskar, 2023) and further new techniques inclusive of “the pointed arch, the flying buttress and ribbed vaulting” (Baskar, 2023) The Middle Ages also introduced new transportation methods, one being the bridges and roads already mentioned and the other being canals acting as another method of transport and trade of value goods from town to town

Industrial Revolution (a milestone in civil engineering) - 18th to 19th century

The next milestone was the Industrial Revolution, with the inventions of machinery compared to manual labor created a new field of work within the engineering industry New materials were used including iron and steel further allowing construction to be larger and stronger Previous buildings deemed to be impossible to build became possible using computers/machinery and new construction components, with reinforced concrete becoming major during the Industrial Revolution allowing for larger and stronger structures. Throughout this period of the 18th and 19th centuries civil engineering reached a turning point marked in history, becoming the start of modern engineering

Modern civil engineering - overlook of changes made, the evolution of civil engineering

Finally, modern civil engineering, the 21st century which we are currently in consists of the carry-on from the 19th century Within this period modern technology continued to expand on a grand scale positively contributing to the efficiency of structures and the work of engineers Furthermore, the theme of new construction methods carries on throughout the 21st century with “prefabricated components which allow buildings to be erected more quickly and efficiently” (Baskar, 2023) As 21st-century engineering continues to push boundaries

many new mind-blowing structures begin to form, an example is The National Stadium in China being the world's largest steel structure. In addition, future mega projects include the Saudi Arabia Line is under construction hoping to reach 105 miles long and 200 metres wide

Civil engineering has undergone a remarkable evolution, adapting to the changes needed for society and advancements in technology With the future looking even more promising, civil engineering will continue its uprise and further change history and the future of the world.

Chapter 3 - negative relationship between civil engineering and climate change

Encompassing both civil engineering and climate change there have been many problems faced when encountering civil engineering practices First and most noticeable is the energy consumption required to fuel machinery and construction plus operation The uses of energy emit greenhouse gases contributing to the average global temperature.

machinery which requires fuel leading back to energy consumption, furthermore, extraction could lead to processes including deforestation, then processing where more machinery is used to operate on the materials gathered Finally, transportation which is again, machinery used to require tons of fuel to be burnt just within the processes of gathering materials.

Overall civil engineering massively contributes to climate change with the masses of energy consumed per day, evidently affecting our climate Not only does it damage our atmosphere, but it also harms our limited environment

Chapter 4 – positive relationship between civil engineering and climate change However, civil engineering has contributed to climate change through sustainable innovations

Although contributing to greenhouse gas emissions ultimately causes a negative effect, civil engineering has had a profound effect on bouncing back and amending damage caused by the industry

Civil engineer's goals to reduce carbon emissions

Furthermore, materials used contribute considerably to climate change, although maybe not noticeable materials require 3 stages all contributing to gas emissions First, the extraction of materials requires

The industry of civil engineering's first step in tackling climate change was to reduce its carbon emissions, with the industry of engineering responsible for 40 percent of the UK’s carbon emissions, their main goal was to reduce this statistic, the 40 percent of carbon emissions primary source was from two factors of production, embodied: where the carbon emitted during the construction of a project, and operational: the carbon emitted once the building is in use To reduce the emissions engineers have considered key features, firstly they focus on green building designs, by this, they attempt to produce high-performing features including windows, ventilation, heating, etc at a lower carbon emission cost Furthermore, to reduce carbon emissions for all industries civil engineers

are proceeding to incorporate renewable energy infrastructure in our everyday lives, these include wind turbines, solar parks, and hydroelectric facilities allowing the use of fuel at minimal emission cost In addition, waste management and recycling are a key change adopted by engineers, to prioritize diverting waste from landfills and promoting resource recovery, civil engineers will minimize greenhouse gas waste

Positive impact helped by joining the UN Sustainable Development Goals

On top of this, the industries' agreement to join in with the UN Sustainable Development Goals will not only help civil engineers be more sustainable but also force engineers to abide by policies and have a routine of what to change. The Un Sustainable Development Goals contain 17 vital “goals” that “need” to be completed to create the most beneficial earth for everyone The goals civil engineers are attempting to make an impact on consist of, 7 Affordable and clean energy, 9 Industry, innovation, and infrastructure, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, 12 Responsible consumption and production and finally 13 Climate action These tasks will help force the idea of sustainability onto civil engineers untimely resulting in cleaner emissions.

Because of the current practices being put in action, civil engineering has made a profound effort to recover from its past careless behaviour toward gas emissions by realizing its actions and acting fast in hopes of making mistakes

Conclusion

In conclusion, I passionately believe that civil engineering was a worrying cause of climate change before the 20th century With the introduction of the Industrial Revolution, most factory-based industries took the opportunity to mass produce with little consequence This not only polluted the atmosphere with greenhouse gas emissions but also created a worrying period for the 20th and 21st centuries to injure and fix Nevertheless, the change embraced by civil engineering is to be applauded; the introduction to climate-resilient technology, the reformation of materials used, and the policies followed to achieve certain objectives to create a more resilient and eco-friendly world are remarkable.

However, I passionately believe civil engineering, on the whole, tremendously impacts climate change With all the greenhouse emissions let out by civil engineering, it does not compare to other industries, leading most, even with sustainability factors, emissions produced overrule those additions, dramatically affecting climate change only for the worse Although its improvement has been noticed, it hasn’t even resolved for half of its emissions produced

Not only have masses of progress already been noticed but future innovations will only solidify their anti-emission goals

HOW DO VALUES AND BELIEFS INFLUENCE THE CONTROVERSY OVER CLONING AND GENETIC ENGINEERING?

WRITTEN BY LEO

P

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

In this EPQ essay, I will be exploring cloning and genetic engineering of plants, animals and humans, and why we believe the things we do about them. This is relevant at the moment because as science advances further, climate change starts making the world more inhospitable, and more people want to avoid disease, we will evidently look to new innovations to overcome these obstacles. However, scientific developments often come into conflict with people’s beliefs and value systems I think that it is extremely likely that cloning and genetic engineering will be used more in the future and will only become more controversial; “Possibly more so than any other area of new science and technology over the last 20 years, [GMOs] have captured public anxieties and sparked concerns about the direction of scientific development.” (The Science and Technology Committee, 2015).

I have divided my essay into the following topics: what are cloning and genetic engineering? How are they currently used? How do people respond to these uses? Why do people respond in the way they do to different uses?

What is cloning and genetic engineering?

Firstly, what is cloning? The Oxford Dictionary says: ‘To propagate (an organism or cell) as a clone ’ This means that the process of cloning involves the copying of genetic material in order to create a new organism or cell There are two different types of cloning to consider: artificial and natural Natural cloning occurs in single celled organisms, some plants, and also identical twins in humans. On the other hand, artificial cloning is when the clone is created due to human interference

There are three types of artificial cloning: gene cloning used to create copies of genes, therapeutic cloning used to create embryonic stem cells (this is not to be confused with using stem cells from leftover embryos from IVF), and reproductive cloning used to reproduce animals The most controversial types of cloning are in reproductive cloning particularly of humans, and in therapeutic cloning, around the rights of the embryo produced and the origin of the genetic material

Now, what is genetic engineering? The term genetic engineering can be used as a blanket term describing, ‘The deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material ’ This covers both types of genetic engineering: gene therapy or therapeutic genetic engineering is used to correct genetic defects, so to create a normal organism out of an abnormal one Enhancement genetic engineering is changing the genome of an organism in order to enhance it past its usual level

How is cloning and genetic engineering used currently?

An example of this is genetically modified crops, as they are given traits which would not be found in nature Often, enhancement genetic engineering is considered as the more unethical of the two different types of genetic engineering due to the fact that it goes against what is natural

In plants, the most common example of genetic engineering would be GM crops This is an example of enhancement genetic engineering as it gives the crops traits such as an increased immunity to certain diseases or resistance to insects This is a highly technological and costly process carried out in a laboratory; “New DNA is transferred into plant cells. Usually, the cells are then grown in tissue culture where they develop into plants The seeds produced by these plants will inherit the new DNA ” (The Royal Society, 2016) This is used to bypass the thousands of years of evolution which would take place naturally to give the species an edge against its predators This sudden change can disrupt the food web and therefore damage the ecosystem

Genetic engineering can also be used in medicine. Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce hormones for people unable to produce them themselves An example of this is bacteria being genetically modified to produce insulin The reason that bacteria are used is due to the ease of growing them, and their speed of reproduction

Cloning is currently available to bring back new identical versions of deceased pets

The US based company Viagen Pets and Equine will clone a cat, dog or horse for a large fee; “The firm charges $50,000 (£38,000) to clone a dog, $30,000 for a cat, and $85,000 for a horse ” (Stav Dimitropoulos, 2022)

Therapeutic cloning involves a process where the nucleus of a somatic cell (differentiated cell) from the patient is inserted into an egg cell which has had the nucleus removed The cell is then grown into an embryo where the stem cells can be harvested and used in the patient’s treatment or in research. The downside to this is the use of an egg cell which could

have turned into a person, however, in 2006, scientists “discovered that it is possible to reprogram multipotent adult stem cells to the pluripotent state ” (Zakrzewski et al , 2019) This bypasses the use of an egg cell, as the DNA in a somatic cell is modified to revert it to a stem cell

How do people respond to the uses of cloning and genetic engineering?

People respond very differently to the cloning or genetic engineering of various organisms For example, someone could agree with GM crops, while also disagreeing with the use of genetic engineering on animals The reasons for this will be outlined in the section after this

The use of genetic engineering on bacteria is one of the least controversial ways genetic engineering has been used Most people would agree that the use of genetically modified bacteria to create insulin is beneficial due to the numerous people it helps. This outweighs the arguments against the use of bacteria such as that we should not be using any living organism for our own purposes

What are the responses to GM crops?

According to a survey (Pew Research Center, 2016) carried out in 2016 in the US, 29% of people have heard a lot about GM foods, 52% have heard a little, and 19% have heard nothing at all This shows a lack of general knowledge in this subject. Furthermore, 48% of US adults believe that there are no effects on their health from eating GM food, 10% believe it is better for them, and 39% believe it is worse for your health with half of them saying there are high risks from eating GM food In addition, the more people have heard about GM food, the more likely they are to say it is worse for your health People are also far more trusting of scientists and small farm owners than the news and people in the food industry. Cloning pets is very controversial.

Only 40% of the US population in 2018 thought that cloning animals is morally acceptable This shows that the majority already don’t agree with any type of animal being cloned Despite this, more people are having their pets cloned, “Viagen says it is now cloning " more and more pets every year, ” and has cloned "hundreds" since it first opened for business in 2015 ” (Stav Dimitropoulos, 2022) However, even though your new pet would look like your old one, their personality would not be the same, less than 50% of it is due to their genetic makeup

The use of therapeutic cloning and stem cell research is also very controversial In 2022, 63% of Americans believed that it is morally acceptable, and only 34% disagreed with it This has stayed relatively stable over the last 20 years with only an increase of 10% for people agreeing, and a 5% decrease in people disagreeing with it This could have something to do with how embryonic stem cell research helps to cure diseases and can therefore be argued as moral

Why do people respond in the way they do?

Ordinary people do not necessarily share the views of the scientific community or the industries that fund them, which is that the benefits of the technology overall outweigh the costs to the individual subject being cloned or genetically modified Many ordinary people hold beliefs around the sentience of the organism affected Sentience is the ability to have feelings. Humans are highly sentient but many people also witness that animals have feelings and therefore should not be subjected to experimentation Even lower life forms such as insects live in colonies and show evidence of feelings such as fear and anger Many people would prioritise humans over animals in terms of their rights but at the same time feel that humans, as higher life forms, need to take care of animals Even plants can reportedly feel pain and as they are at the bottom of the food chain, changing their genetic make-up could have an impact on the insects, then animals and also humans further up the food chain

Despite concerns about lower life forms, the most controversy occurs when concerning or affecting humans

Therapeutic cloning is controversial because of the destruction of an embryo which, although it is cloned, still has the potential to turn into a human On the other hand, bacteria being genetically engineered does not bother most people because they are not sentient and have no perceived impact on humans.

In addition to personal values, religious beliefs also shape people’s responses to different types of cloning and genetic engineering

Almost all world religions have taken a stance on the issue Protestants have mixed views about whether cloning should be allowed; “They could be opposed to reproductive cloning, but affirm therapeutic cloning” This is because therapeutic cloning could save human lives

The Catholic Church has a similar position to the Protestant Church, although it is against the destruction of embryos; “[the Catholic Church] opposes embryonic stem cell research since it creates or destroys human embryos” (Liu, 2008)

This means that they only agree with the use of adult stem cells in research as that does not destroy any new life and can be given voluntarily by the donor

Furthermore, many Christians of all denominations are against genetic engineering as it is ‘playing God,’ which is the sin of hubris and would undermine God as the Creator For Buddhists there is a choice of two different teachings which people could follow: “the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahims, and the pursuit of knowledge and compassion (karua) ” (Liu, 2008) Therefore some Buddhists believe that the harming of an embryo is wrong and oppose therapeutic cloning, while others think that the knowledge gained,

and the uses of it to help other humans, makes it worth the destruction of the embryo Hindus and Muslims follow no official stance Judaism is the only religion to completely allow the use of “embryonic and adult stem cell research as long as it is for medical or therapeutic purposes ” (Liu, 2008) Furthermore, although all the main world religions believe that humans have souls, only Hindus and Buddhists believe in animals having souls. The religions which don’t believe that animals have everlasting souls could condone their use in experimentation However if somebody believes that even small insects have souls and a succession of lives in different physical forms, using them in cloning or genetically engineering could give ‘bad karma’ to the scientist or person benefitting

Conclusion

be able to accept it is if they are willing to let go of their own moral values

Personally, I do not think that cloning and genetic engineering could ever be used in a moral way based upon my own ethical standards However, I think if people become desperate enough, for example if their own lives are threatened through medical emergency or food shortages, we could all be forced to adapt

In this essay, I have explained what cloning and genetic engineering are and given examples of different uses among various life-forms I have then found examples of people’s responses to them and explained how their value systems have impacted this To conclude, cloning and genetic engineering are so morally controversial because of the difference in values between the scientists and the industries funding them, and the ordinary people who are supposed to benefit from the technology Ordinary people have many objections to the technology. To some it seems unnatural and, in some cases, even cruel The level of scientific knowledge required to understand the processes involved is beyond the capacity of the general public and people are cautious about what might happen in the future and what could happen if the technology fell into the wrong hands It will probably be many years before people feel comfortable with cloning and genetic engineering and by that time science will have advanced even further. The only way people might

NATURE VERSUS NURTURE – TO WHAT EXTENT IS ALCOHOLISM A GENETIC TRAIT?

WRITTEN

BY

MABEL W

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

In this dissertation, I will be discussing the topic of ‘Nature versus Nurture – to what extent is alcoholism a genetic trait’. ‘Nature versus Nurture’ is a concept debated in sciences, such as biology and psychology, to determine whether a person ’ s traits or human development is caused by their genetics (nature) or influenced by external factors, such as upbringing, lifestyle, or personal experiences (nurture). Alcoholism is a physical and mental dependence on alcohol, where a person continues to misuse the substance despite dangerous or negative consequences Alcoholism is a disease that can affect every aspect of the person ’ s life – their physical health, mental well-being, and personal relationships with others. The harmful use of alcohol is a contributing factor in over 100 diseases and injury conditions and causes around 3 million deaths each year. It has a detrimental impact on not only the individual suffering from an AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder), but can also affect family, friends, and co-workers. I chose this topic as I feel like it is very relevant in today’s society, as substance abuse is increasing at an alarming rate. I wanted to further my understanding of the subject.

I have chosen to expand my title using the following sub-questions: alcoholism in genetics, alcoholism by upbringing, whether the children of alcoholics are likely to also misuse the substance or be diverted from it completely, and treatment for alcoholism.

I have decided to write an EPQ to extend my understanding of a subject that interests me, and to use the skills I am learning through this project, such as meeting deadlines and essay writing, for when I must use them more often in the future.

ALCHOHOLISM IN GENETICS

Genetic variations account for a substantial portion of a person ’ s risk for alcoholism – studies show that genes make up around 50% of someone ’ s possibility for developing an alcohol misuse disorder

While there is no singular gene responsible for causing alcoholism, there are many genetic factors that can influence a person ’ s risk for developing the substance-abuse disorder, such as their genetic predisposition, gene variants, and neurotransmitter regulation

Some of the most significant gene variants that are hypothesized to increase a person ’ s predisposition to alcoholism would be ADH1B – Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1B – and ALDH2 –Aldehyde Dehydrogenase. These two enzymes work together in the process of metabolising alcohol in the human body.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) is an enzyme that plays a key role in the breakdown of alcohol in the body When ethanol (alcohol) is consumed, ADH works in the liver to convert it initially into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that causes damage to cellular structures and proteins, and can be irritating to body tissues. To reduce its harmful effects, acetaldehyde is then further metabolized into acetate by Aldehyde Dehydrogenase. Acetate is a less harmful substance, which can easily be converted into carbon dioxide and water

Certain polymorphisms of these genes could make somebody more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, such as the ADH1B*2 variant of the ADH1B (Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1B) gene, and the ALDH2 (Aldehyde Dehydrogenase) allele, ALDH2*2

The ADH1B allele, ADH1B*2, breaks down ethanol into acetaldehyde approximately 40 times more efficiently than ADH1B Therefore, individuals with this variant would experience the effects of alcohol much more quickly, which could possibly act as a deterrent against heavy or habitual drinking This would decrease their risk of developing an alcohol misuse disorder

Furthermore, the gene variant ALDH2*2 –also commonly associated with the rs671 allele – severely decreases the activity of the ALDH2 enzyme Studies show that the ALDH2 enzyme activity in individuals with the ALDH2*2 variant can be reduced to around 6 25% This makes the process of breaking down acetaldehyde into acetate significantly slower, causing accumulation of the harmful compound, which can lead to facial flushing, nausea, increased heart rate, and headaches Similarly to the ADH1B*2 variant, this could discourage those with the ALDH2*2 gene variation from regular intoxication, lessening their risk of becoming an alcoholic.

The prevalence of these genetic variations varies between different populations, and

are found most frequently among East Asians

The ALDH2*2 missense variant is present in nearly 8% of the world’s population and estimated to affect around 540 million East Asians The ADH1B*2 allele is also highly prevalent in East Asians, but is also thought that it’s presence makes individuals of Asian, European, African, Hispanic, or Native America descent, around half as likely to develop an alcohol dependency While these genetic variations can be found individually, there is a notable cooccurrence of these variations –particularly in those of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean descent

Individuals without these genetic variations are therefore much more likely to develop an alcohol misuse disorder They may not experience the effects of alcohol very quickly due to the slower rate that Alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol into acetaldehyde Their faster metabolism of acetaldehyde into acetate would enable them to potentially drink more heavily as the efficiency of the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase theoretically lessens the uncomfortable short-term effects of drinking, such as flushing and nausea

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES

While factors such as genetic variations can contribute significantly to a person ’ s risk of alcoholism, it is important to recognise the equally influential role that environmental

factors can have with someone ’ s relationship with the substance Alcohol abuse can be used as a coping mechanism for things such as stress or trauma

Trauma, especially when experienced in childhood, has a substantial impact on a person ’ s risk to developing an Alcohol abuse disorder, such as binge drinking or compulsive alcohol use Someone who has experienced traumatic events when growing up is thought to be around 4 times more likely to become an alcoholic in later life Emotional abuse and neglect are two types of trauma that most often lead to alcohol abuse – this could be as the person uses the alcohol’s effects as a coping mechanism to anesthetize their feelings Furthermore, someone growing up in an unstable home may also find comfort in the regularity of their drinking habits, seeing it as routine, and seeing alcohol and its effects as something constant in their life Trauma can also affect social aspects of someone ’ s life, disrupting personal relationships and leading to feelings of isolation The individual may then turn to alcohol to numb their loneliness and escape from social stressors

Childhood trauma, or trauma of any kind, can lead to the development of PTSD –Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – or CPTSD – Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD is where an individual can experience symptoms such as intrusive memories, hypervigilance, avoidance behaviours, and negative alterations in mood and reactions (such as increased anger, anxiety, irritability, or fear), due to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event earlier in life CPTSD is resultant of prolonged or repeated trauma, and its effects on somebody are similar to PTSD, however CPTSD sufferers usually experience more difficulties forming personal relationships, and stronger feelings of shame related to their trauma An individual with either PTSD or CPTSD may turn to alcohol to help them cope with painful emotions due to their trauma

Alcohol can act as a depressant on the Central Nervous system, temporarily numbing their emotional distress by alleviating feelings of depression or anxiety, and helping the individual escape from upsetting intrusive thoughts The symptoms of PTSD and CPTSD can be overwhelming, so the person could also rely on the substance as a form of selfmedication, by using alcohol to dull their symptoms Furthermore, due to the increased anxiety, depression, and overall negative effects of the disorder, PTSD/CPTSD can also impact personal relationships, which could make the person turn to alcohol to cope with possible social anxiety or difficulties

Stress is also a major contributor to an individual’s risk of developing alcoholism, with studies showing that men and women who report higher levels of stress drink more, and that stressed men are 1 5 times more likely to succumb to binge drinking compared to women There are many different types of stress, such as Acute stress – caused by a short-term stressor, such as taking an exam – Routine stress –due to persistent pressures from school, work, or relationships – Sudden Negative stress – illness, losing a job, financial difficulty, or divorce – Traumatic stress –caused by a major event (assault or natural disaster), where someone fears they may be seriously injured or killed

One form of stress that is considered to be the most likely to cause the development of alcoholism, is Chronic stress Chronic stress is caused by longterm stressors, such as job satisfaction, financial difficulties, or relationship problems Chronic stressors can have a substantial and enduring impact on a person ’ s physical and mental health. Individuals suffering from Chronic stress are likely to turn to try and escape from the ongoing pressures of their, as it would temporarily relieve them from tension, anxiety, and stress As Chronic stress is a constant worry in their life, the person may

become reliant on alcohol in an attempt to numb their emotions and forget their troubles permanently – however, this would obviously not be a successful longterm solution Individuals experiencing Chronic stress may also use alcohol as a form of self-medication, as the condition can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions

Due to their condition, relaxation would be rare, so the person would find comfort in temporarily numbing their emotional distress The constant pressures of Chronic stress can break down a person ’ s resilience, making them more susceptible to harmful coping mechanisms, such as alcohol abuse The effects of the condition can take a considerable toll on an individual’s social relationships and willingness to participate in social activities, leading to isolation and loneliness

Someone may then turn to persistent alcohol misuse, finding companionship and solace in the substance However, overconsumption of alcohol due to stress can actually cause stress on the brain’s chemistry, shifting hormonal balance and changing the way the body perceives and responds to stress by resetting what the body considers to be a ‘normal’ level of stress Over time, this increases stress levels, therefore strengthening someone ’ s ‘need’ for over-consumption of alcohol to achieve the same stress-relief effect and reduce discomfort, leading to a vicious cycle of stress and alcohol abuse

Another factor that contributes significantly to an individual’s risk of alcoholism is if they grew up in a household with an alcoholic parent Studies show that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop an Alcohol Use Disorder themselves and makeup around 40 to 80 per cent of child abuse cases Due to the all-consuming nature of alcoholism, the parent would prioritise the substance over their child, causing behavioural, psychological, and emotional consequences

Throughout childhood, the individual could be regularly exposed to chaos, emotional/physical neglect, and possibly violence/abuse This can have long-term effects on the person, increasing their risk to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, emotional or social isolation, and PTSD All of these are leading contributors to someone ’ s risk of developing an Alcohol Use Disorder

Every child’s experience is different, and while their childhood can still have long-lasting consequences throughout their later life, not all children of alcoholics are guaranteed to develop an AUD, despite the additional genetic component In some cases, potentially due to trauma from their experiences, the individual may be diverted from the substance completely

CONCLUSION

Through my dissertation on the subject of “Nature versus Nurture – to what extent is alcoholism a genetic trait”, I have determined that alcoholism is a result of a combination of both genetic and environmental factors I believe that genetic variations cause an (extremely influential) predisposition to an Alcohol Use Disorder, which is triggered by environmental influences Environmental factors such as stress or trauma have a significant effect on the development of alcoholism, while the additional genetic component of potential gene variations majorly increases an individual’s risk of substance abuse disorder After in-depth research on the environmental risk factors for alcoholism, I have realised that the ‘nurture’ argument has a much more substantial impact on an individual than I previously thought – genetics alone are not sufficient enough to account for someone ’ s vulnerability to addiction

SHOULD SELFINFLICTED ILLNESSES BE TREATED BY THE NHS?

WRITTEN BY SAMUEL O

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

The NHS (National Health Service) is a publicly funded healthcare system dedicated to providing accessible and comprehensive service to UK residents Its primary purpose is to offer free healthcare services to people at the point of use, guaranteeing that the individuals receive necessary medical assistance without financial barriers.

The field of self-inflicted illnesses entails injuries or conditions related to a person ’ s choices, behaviours, and actions. They may include lifestyle choices e.g. food consumption, daily exercise, substance abuse, etc These factors often provoke consequential conditions that impact physical or mental well-being and can range from smoking and drug/alcohol abuse to unhealthy eating and lack of sleep. The term refers to conditions where an individual’s actions proportionally contribute to the magnitude or progression of the ailment, differentiating them from illnesses caused by primary external factors. (e.g. infectious diseases, environmental hazards, genetic disorders, etc.) Considering this, I aim to delve into these topics and answer the central question - Should the NHS provide equal treatment for self-inflicted disorders?

Chapter 1: What are the main factors that surround helping patient with selfinflicted disorders?

Medical Ethics and Beneficence

“Beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice constitute the 4 principles of ethics. The first 2 can be traced back to the time of Hippocrates “to help and do no harm ” Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice, medical principles and practice: international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre) Beneficence emphasises the obligation to do good and promote the well-being of individuals In the context of healthcare, it means that doctors and other healthcare professionals have a moral responsibility to act in the best interests of their patients, aiming to maximise benefits and minimise harm. This principle underscores the importance of providing quality care, considering the patient’s best interests, and ensuring positive outcomes in medical practice and decision-making Additionally, in the context of medical ethics, the proposition of the beneficence remains crucial The principle of beneficence is one of the core ethical principles in medical ethics It is derived from the Latin word "beneficentia," which means "doing good "

The principle of beneficence emphasises the obligation of healthcare professionals to promote the well-being and best interests of the patient In other words, it highlights the moral duty to actively contribute to the welfare of individuals and to act in their best interests This involves taking proactive steps to promote the well-being of patients, which may include preventing harm, improving health outcomes, and ensuring patients receive optimal care. Healthcare providers are also tasked with carefully balancing the potential risks and benefits of medical interventions, weighing the positive outcomes against any potential harm

In addition, beneficence involves respecting the autonomy and preferences of patients, acknowledging their right to make decisions about their own care

Public Health

In the context of improving public health, there are potential benefits to treating selfinflicted illnesses, such as preventing the spread of communicable diseases and releasing the burden on emergency services The importance of treating self-inflicted illnesses lies in the overall improvement of individual health, as medical interventions can relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and enhance overall wellbeing Timely treatment can also prevent the provocation of these illnesses, reducing the risk of complications and contributing to better health outcomes Furthermore, addressing these conditions is crucial for public health, as it helps prevent the spread of communicable diseases and mitigates their impact on communities.

Treatment also provides an opportunity for rehabilitation and recovery, particularly for illnesses related to addiction or mental health Additionally, effective treatment may help reduce long-term healthcare costs and enhance productivity nd functionality, leading to improved interpersonal relationships and increased participation in society Providing treatment for self-inflicted illnesses not only offers psychosocial benefits but also reduces stigmatisation, promotes ethical and humanitarian considerations, and aligns with long-term public health strategies, working towards reducing the overall burden of illness in communities

Prevention, Rehabilitation and Treatment

Based on the description, providing treatment for self-inflicted illnesses is indeed a key strategy in addressing the root causes of these conditions, fostering recovery, and preventing future instances

The assessment and intervention ensure that individuals receive comprehensive care that considers the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to their condition Healthcare professionals (such as therapists, surgeons, and other senior doctors) play a vital role in identifying and addressing the underlying issues causing selfinflicted illnesses

This involves exploring mental health conditions (e g Munchausen syndrome), trauma, substance abuse (drugs, alcohol) and other social determinants of health By targeting these root causes, effective and sustainable recovery can be achieved Many patients are encouraged to use specific mechanisms to help with their disorder or illness

Counselling and therapy provide useful coping mechanisms, resilience-building skills, and a safe space for individuals to explore and address the root causes of their challenges.

Engaging with healthcare professionals also offers opportunities for education and prevention, as this can cause individuals to gain insights into the factors contributing to their illnesses and receive education about healthier lifestyle choices, coping strategies, and available support services This aids to prevent future instances of self-inflicted illnesses

particularly for urgent and emerging care

Patients with acute medical conditions, injuries, or life-threatening illnesses require immediate attention and timely access to healthcare resources Furthermore, if resources are diverted to treat self-inflicted illnesses, it may result in longer wait times for individuals seeking urgent care. Delays in accessing necessary medical interventions can have profound consequences for patients with acute conditions, potentially leading to worsened health outcomes or complications

Finally, treating self-inflicted illnesses may place additional strain on emergency services and healthcare facilities, leading to overcrowding and increased wait times for all patients Emergency departments may become overwhelmed, making it challenging to provide timely care to individuals with urgent medical needs From an ethical standpoint, resource allocation decisions must consider the principle of justice, which emphasises fair and equitable distribution of resources

Prioritising the treatment of self-inflicted illnesses over urgent care needs may raise ethical concerns about fairness and the allocation of resources based on individual responsibility for illness

Chapter 4: Why could helping individuals with self-inflicted diseases prove fatal for the NHS?

In medical ethics, treating self-inflicted illnesses has the potential to raise ethical concerns regarding the allocation of resources to conditions that result from individuals' choices or behaviours This entails whether a person who attempts a dangerous feat should be treated first, rather than a patient with a life-threatening health condition Critics argue that prioritising the treatment of self-inflicted illnesses over other healthcare needs could undermine the principle of fairness and justice, particularly if individuals with nonself-inflicted conditions face longer wait times or reduced access to care

In the aspect of public health, critics may argue that allocating resources to treat selfinflicted illnesses could detract from broader public health initiatives aimed at preventing communicable diseases, addressing environmental health hazards, or promoting healthy behaviours across populations By focusing resources on treating individual cases of self-inflicted illnesses, healthcare systems may miss opportunities to invest in upstream interventions that have the potential to improve population health outcomes more effectively

Concerning prevention and rehabilitation, it could be argued that prioritising treatment for self-inflicted illnesses overlooks the importance of prevention and rehabilitation efforts. Instead of allocating resources solely to treating existing cases of self-inflicted illnesses, critics may advocate for greater investment in preventive measures, such as education, public health campaigns, and early intervention programs By addressing underlying risk factors, healthcare systems can potentially reduce the prevalence of self-inflicted illnesses and the need for costly treatments in the long term

Chapter 5: Conclusion

Addressing self-inflicted illnesses underscores the ethical imperative of healthcare to alleviate suffering and promote well-being The principle of beneficence, central to medical ethics, emphasises the moral obligation of healthcare providers to prioritise patient welfare and maximise positive health outcomes By providing treatment for selfinflicted conditions, healthcare systems respect this obligation and affirm their commitment to compassionate and patient-centred care

Furthermore, the treatment of self-inflicted illnesses aligns with broader public health objectives

By addressing individual health needs, healthcare systems can mitigate the spread of communicable diseases, reduce the burden on emergency services, and promote community well-being Investing in the treatment of self-inflicted illnesses is not only a matter of individual health but also a strategic approach to enhancing overall population health and reducing healthcare disparities

However, it is important to recognise the potential impact of resource allocation decisions on others who may require urgent care Limited resources, such as medical personnel, facilities, and funding, pose challenges in meeting the diverse healthcare needs of individuals within communities Decisions about resource allocation must strike a balance between addressing immediate health concerns and investing in long-term health promotion and disease prevention efforts

While preventive measures and rehabilitation initiatives are integral part of healthcare strategies, integrating treatment options for self-inflicted illnesses is essential for care delivery By adopting evidencebased practices and collaborative approaches, healthcare systems can optimise resource allocation and ensure equitable access to care for all individuals, regardless of the origin of their health challenges

Moving forward, fostering dialogue, innovation, and partnership among healthcare stakeholders will be essential to address the complex issues surrounding resource allocation for self-inflicted illnesses By prioritising empathy, inclusivity, and patient-specific care, healthcare systems can build resilient and compassionate healthcare systems that support the well-being of everyone in society

Moreover, acknowledging the proportionate relationship of individual health and community well-being is essential in addressing self-inflicted illnesses. By providing treatment and support for individuals struggling with these conditions, healthcare systems contribute to the stability and resilience of communities. When individuals receive the care they need, they are better able to participate actively in society, contribute to the workforce, and maintain healthy relationships, ultimately benefiting the broader community

In addition, investing in the treatment of self-inflicted illnesses can yield long-term economic benefits While there may be upfront costs associated with providing treatment and support services, addressing these conditions can result in significant savings over time By preventing the worsening of illnesses, reducing the need for emergency interventions, and promoting productivity and functionality among affected individuals, healthcare systems can realise substantial economic returns on their investment

Furthermore, taking a compassionate approach to healthcare underscores the values of inclusivity and social justice Every individual, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their illness, deserves access to prompt and proper care By prioritising the treatment of self-inflicted illnesses, healthcare systems uphold these values and prove their commitment to serving the needs of all members of society

In conclusion, while the allocation of resources for treating self-inflicted illnesses presents challenges, it also offers opportunities to promote individual wellbeing, enhance public health, and strengthen communities. By adopting a balanced approach that integrates treatment, prevention, and community support, healthcare systems can optimise resource allocation and maximise positive outcomes for all individuals Moving forward, continued collaboration, innovation, and advocacy will be essential in addressing the complex issues surrounding self-inflicted illnesses and ensuring fair access to care for everyone

TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD NICOTINE AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS BE OUTLAWED IN THE UK?

WRITTEN BY WILLIAM S

Completed the Higher Project Qualification

Nicotine products, especially e-cigarettes (more commonly known as ‘ vapes’), have been getting increasingly popularized in recent years. Cigarettes and vapes contain both nicotine and tobacco, two highly addictive chemicals, along with ‘around 4000 other toxic chemicals that increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses’. They became popular through the media, which influenced many people below the age of 18 to begin buying and consuming nicotine products (illegally). The sheer amount of people investing in vapes in the present could very well become a statistic for incredibly deadly illnesses in the future as they are relatively new products and it can be presumed that all of the side effects have not been discovered yet, much like when smoking was popular in the early 20th century and only in “1964 was it discovered to be harmful”.

The UK government began to act against smoking in 2008, when they first introduced stark image warnings of diseased lungs, heart surgery and so on. This was to warn smokers of what could happen in the distant future and to deter anyone from consuming nicotine products. However, these images have proven to be not enough to stop people from consuming nicotine products. To what extent should they be outlawed in the UK?

Ch 1: The short and long-term effects of obacco products and how they can affect people. tes, vapes and cigars contain nicotine, along with onoxide (a poisonous gas that reduces oxygen o the body’s organs and tissues), tar (a sticky that smothers the lungs and contains cancerents), arsenic (a poison that damages the heart and sels), lead (a metal that affects the brain and ystem), along with approximately 4000 other hemicals

bstances cause numerous short-term effects, some e mild – such as “bad breath or loss of taste and nd most being rather severe (coughing, shortness of creased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, problems, reduced brain activity, reduced athletic addiction) Nicotine products can cause many effects as well, all of which are extremely serious ntially life-altering Consuming nicotine products for end can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, ions with the immune system (including rheumatoid and lung diseases (including but not limited to mphysema, and chronic bronchitis)

cotine being a highly addictive chemical and that it is es and vapes, it is easy for people to become nt on nicotine products, sometimes for the rest of This addiction is what drives people to bring es to an early grave, costing them a lot of money bly a vital organ in the process This nicotine develops when the brain becomes dependent on s of nicotine – when you smoke a cigarette or ape, nicotine enters your bloodstream, reaching n, which stimulates the release of dopamine As time ur brain craves more nicotine to experience the rush again, leading to addiction. Addiction is a longct of consuming tobacco products but could also be d as a short-term effect as the time taken for consuming them to become addicted varies from person

re are some methods to attempt to overcome there is currently no permanent cure for most of erm side effects (excluding tuberculosis, which takes ately 6 months to cure with the intake of ), enforcing the fact that nicotine and tobacco are extremely harmful and should be outlawed in

Chapter 2: What measures can be implemented to reduce the use of nicotine and tobacco products?

Smoking was first discovered to be harmful in the 1960’s, and around 40 years later –in 2008 – the UK government finally began to attempt to deter the public from consuming cigarettes Eight years later in 2016, the UK government decided to make the images on cigarette packets a legal requirement “Researchers found that smokers who saw graphic warning labels on every pack of cigarettes they smoked for four weeks had more negative feelings about smoking compared to those who just saw text warnings, which led them to look more closely at the warnings and put more credence into them”

While the warning images succeeded at discouraging the consumption of cigarettes, the rate at which people who consume nicotine products in general has continued to rise, especially since electronic cigarettes (more commonly known as ‘ vapes’) have become popularized in recent years

The graph above shows the amount of ecigarette users (in millions) in the UK and highlights the steep rise in usage between 2012 and 2017, where the amount of electronic cigarette users increased by 2 2 million within the span of 5 years The most noticeable increase was between 2013 and 2014 – which was by a whopping 800,000 people

The UK government has taken other measures to reduce the consumption of nicotine and tobacco products by implementing policies such as increasing taxes on tobacco and banning smoking in public areas They have also “supported smoking cessation programs ” (activities that aim to support people who smoke to stop smoking) and campaigns to raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking These efforts aim to discourage smoking and promote healthier lifestyles

Delving deeper into the tobacco topic, the UK government has placed various restrictions on tobacco advertising. They have banned tobacco advertising on television, radio and print media (materials or publications which are printed on paper and distributed) Furthermore, there are extremely strict regulations on tobacco product packaging, not allowing any form of branding or promotional elements, instead containing the infamous warning images of diseased lungs, rotten teeth and so on The goal of this is to limit the appeal of tobacco products – especially to young people as they are easily influenced – and encourage a smoke/tobacco-free culture.

Chapter 3: What impacts do nicotine and tobacco products have on the UK economy?

Nicotine products, while generally being harmful, negative items, can also have positive impacts on the UK economy The tobacco industry contributes to tax revenue and provides employment opportunities (jobs within the tobacco industry to do with manufacturing, distribution, and retail).

However, there are many negative impacts on the UK economy to do with nicotine and tobacco products, primarily to do with the healthcare costs associated with smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer and heart disease

“Smoking costs the NHS £2 4 billion every year, along with a further £1 2 billion yearly in social care costs Smoking-related hospital admissions and primary care treatments cost £1 9 billion, while it costs local authorities in England £1 1 billion each year on care for smoking-related illnesses in later life” This is extremely impactful to the UK’s economy because the yearly expenditure is approximately 1.189 trillion GBP – and the total cost of the smoking-related illnesses is £6.6 billion – taking up 0 56% of the UK’s yearly expenditure While this amount may seem insignificant, it is a huge loss due to the sheer number of other things that the government could be putting money into, instead of smoking-related illnesses alone

1 3 million vapes are discarded every week in the UK, “they offer a few hundred puffs of nicotine-rich vapour, often with an added flavour of fruit or sweets, in colourful plastic packaging – which are thrown away when empty Disposable vapes also contain a small lithium battery, which can increase in temperature when crushed, causing fires in bin lorries” The sheer amount of wasted plastic and risks involved with disposable vapes are what drove the government to make the decision to outlaw them sometime in 2024 “Last year, the vaping industry in the UK valued at £2 8 billion”, and while this may be a considerable number, the losses involved to the economy outweigh it by a landslide.

As stated in the previous paragraph, illnesses involving nicotine cost the UK £6 6 billion – almost two and a half times as much as the total revenue of vapes – not to mention the costs for clearing up litter as well If the UK were to remove vapes, smokers would not be happy and would have to (somehow) quench their nicotine addiction through alternative means However, the UK would benefit from this because vapes make far less money than they do harm to the economy.

Chapter 4: The environmental effects of cigarettes and vapes

“Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world, approximately 4 5 trillion of them are improperly discarded of each year They heavily contribute to the plastic problem as their filters (made of plastic) –which are a component in over 90% of commercial cigarettes – are made of a material called cellulose acetate It does not biodegrade, instead they photodegrade, meaning that light breaks them down into smaller pieces and microplastics, but they do not eventually disappear” Not only this, but the harmful chemicals can leach into soil and water, withering away plants, endangering aquatic life and contaminating water sources, making them unsafe for consumption

Moving onto vapes, they also heavily contribute to litter in the UK Around 5 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week, all of which contain lithium batteries which are easily able to set fire to things like the bin lorries that dispose of them and nature While vapes produce less air pollution compared to standard packet cigarettes, they contribute to electronic waste, mainly due to disposable cartridges and batteries that need to be properly disposed of or recycled instead of just being thrown away randomly

Cigarettes contribute to the huge plastic problem and photodegrade into the surroundings and electronic cigarettes are a big part of the amount of litter in the UK –they are also dangerous when not properly disposed of Taking these factors into account, it is safe to assume that the environmental damages of nicotine and tobacco products (whether it be electronic or standard) should not be ignored, and instead have large actions taken against them as soon as possible as they have been proven to be terrible for the environment

Conclusion:

Due to health, economic and environmental reasons, I believe that nicotine and tobacco products should be outlawed in the UK They are costly to both the consumer and the economy, extremely harmful to the environment and very addictive This project has hardened my view on cigarettes and vapes as I now have a better understanding of the destructiveness of nicotine and tobacco products Before writing my essay, I thought that vapes and cigarettes only affected the people who consume them and those who were unlucky enough to breathe in nicotine-polluted air regularly, but after writing this I have discovered that they affect almost everything – humans, animals, plants, oceans and even the air we breathe Taking all of this into consideration, it is unclear why the UK government hasn’t outlawed – or at least tightened the laws of – nicotine and tobacco products yet as there is more than enough proof that they do not benefit anyone Perhaps in the future the UK (and maybe other countries too) will be able to live in a smoke-free society, which will be far more beneficial for the future generations to come

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR ESSAY THEME?

I had always been quite interested in criminal psychology, but I had never had an opportunity to read into the topic that much For this reason, I thought that the essay would be a good chance to learn more

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

In the future, I would like to work in some sort of scientific field More specifically, I would like to go to university to study engineering

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

Currently, I enjoy computer science, as the course involves a lot of practical elements, and improving my digital literacy will likely help me in the future Furthermore, I enjoy music because it is very different to all of the other subjects that I study

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS, EITHER IN OR OUT OF SCHOOL, AND HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED YOU?

If I had to choose a role model it would be Cristiano Ronaldo – this is because he is extremely hard-working, and nothing in his life was ever given to him. I think this is really important because it encourages me to work harder in my own life

HOW HAS BEING A SCHOLAR CHANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION AND LEARNING?

Being an academic scholar has really improved my attitude towards learning as every few weeks there are scholar sessions

These allow me to learn about things I otherwise wouldn’t have

HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED AND CONTINUE TO PUSH YOURSELF ACADEMICALLY?

One of the ways that I have kept myself inspired and motivated is by finding an interest that you think you’ll want to pursue as a career in the future

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR?

Next year, I will be focusing on my GCSEs and trying to achieve similar, if not better, grades than I have in past years

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

I enjoy History and Geography the most because I find them really interesting, and the lessons are often fun. I particularly like human Geography.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR?

For the next academic year, I want to do well in my GCSEs To do this I need to work really hard

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

After finishing school I want to go to university, but afters I am not sure I might want to go into law

AARON C

HARRY C

LE

MODELS,

F SCHOOL,

AND FLUENCED YOU?

stiano Ronaldo hard work and nce in situations that er, his attitude n is truly admirable

TURE ACADEMIC TIONS?

ls at Lingfield College ing, civil engineering , at university then I hope to become a full time engineer due to my interests and passion within the industry of engineering

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR ESSAY THEME?

I chose to write my essay on the subject of cloning as I find it an incredibly interesting topic and I believe that it is important to know more about it

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

In the future I want to study physics and maths as two of my A Levels so that I can study engineering at university. I still don't know which field of engineering i want to work in, however i believe that i would enjoy the kind of work which any engineer is presented with

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE SCHOLAR SESSION THIS YEAR AND WHY?

My favourite scholars session has been the one on money by Mr Bolton as i found it interesting to get to have a more in depth discussion about what money actually is

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

My favourite subjects at the moment are maths and history; this is because my teachers are very encouraging and help me prosper in their subjects Furthermore, I enjoy studying and learning about new topics

HOW HAS BEING A SCHOLAR CHANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION AND LEARNING?

I believe that the scholars sessions have offered me an opportunity to extend my knowledge further than i would have normally i think that this is incredibly important in order to fully apply myself to the subjects we were taught about In addition, the scholars program has given me more insight into what life is like further up the school This has helped to expand my horizons and allowed me to fully appreciate what school has to offer

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

My favourite subjects are maths and physics because i enjoy the problem solving i have to use However i also really like the programming aspect of computer science as well as French

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I chose my essay theme as I was interested in the genetic causes for alcoholism, and I wanted to find out more about the environmental influences

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS, EITHER IN OR OUT OF SCHOOL, AND HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED YOU?

My role model is actress and filmmaker Angelina Jolie, due to her successful career and incredible work founding and continuing to fund the National Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Children.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

My essay ‘Should Self-Inflicted Illnesses be treated by the NHS?’ was inspired by my passions in ethics and justice, which I hope to continue further in my future education

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

My favourite subjects currently are History and Computer Science due to my passion for programming and my interests in all of the IGCSE topics, including the Cold War and the origins of the League of Nations

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE SCHOLAR SESSION THIS YEAR AND WHY?

My favourite scholars session was the one about Criminal Phycology, where we learnt about common features of criminals

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

I enjoy history the most out of all my subjects as I find it very interesting, and have most enjoyed learning about Stalin Russia so far

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

After A Levels, I hope to study criminology and forensic science at university, and have a career in criminology

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE SCHOLAR SESSION THIS YEAR AND WHY?

My favourite Scholars meeting was the ‘Speculative Fiction’ workshop with Miss Bowling: I enjoyed it due to my interests in criminology and healthcare

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

After I finish my A Levels, I would like to study Criminology or Engineering as they are my passions I also aspire to work in an engineering firm, preferably in the aerospace sector I would love to work in NASA as it has been an interest of mine

MABEL W

SAMUEL O

WILLIAM S

HOW HAS BEING A SCHOLAR CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION AND LEARNING?

Being a scholar has changed my perspective on education and learning mainly due to the essay set every year, some information that I originally thought was insignificant that I learnt in lessons proved to be very useful in the essay as they provided for a topic to write about or just a fun fact The scholars sessions are also very informative and unlike casual lessons during normal school hours

WHAT

ARE MY FUTURE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

For my future academic aspirations, I wish to achieve high grades in my GCSE’s and A Levels, and as for the university I would like to go to, I have no clue. For my career aspirations, I would like to either go into the finance or yachting industry

WHO ARE MY ROLE MODELS AND HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED ME?

My role models are my parents, Cheri and Leon, as they do so much for me to attend this prestigious school For much of my life they drove my sister and I to and from school every day, two hours of driving every day just to ensure that I had a good education, which I admire as I believe that isn’t something that many other parents would bother to do for their child

WHICH

SUBJECTS DO I ENJOY THE MOST AND WHY?

I enjoy maths and computer science the most as, most of the time, I find that they are fun. Maths is not too easy nor too difficult, and computer science is especially enjoyable when programming in Python.

"Education in the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

Nelson Mandela