Round Square Conference: Thursday 13 Oct

New!: photos of the closing ceremony (Thursday 13 Oct afternoon / evening) 

Today started as usual with a moment of meditation. Following we listened to four keynote speakers:

Nick Howes is a freelance science writer and amateur astronomer (@NickAstronomer), whose work has included science writer for the European Space Agencies Science Portal. He has over 300 NASA ADS citations for observational work on comets and asteroids, and is in the Guinness Book of records for leading a team of UK Astronomers in creating the World’s largest image composite of the moon taken by ground based observations. His talk was very interesting as he warned of the danger that earth faces from comets, asteroids and meteorites. He encouraged all young people with an interest in science to take up amateur astronomy.

Colonel Al Worden, Commander of Apollo 15, the last visit to the moon amusingly described his experiences on this lunar mission. He firmly believes that other forms of intelligent life exist away from earth.

Koome Gikunda, a former Aiglon College student described his journey from a humble village in Kenya, a school in Kenya, a scholarship to Aiglon and then on to Stanford and Oxford Universities before entering London’s banking world. He has since returned to Kenya “to give back to society” by helping to fund new small business ventures.

Peter Charaf, Race for Water, described the problem that our oceans face through the dumping of plastic material. Evidence was presented from an expedition that visited islands around the world showing the degree of pollution, in even idyllic settings, such as the Azores, Easter Island, Hawaii, The Maldives and nearest to Argentina, Tristan de Cunha in the South Atlantic.

Later today there will be the  closing ceremony and then after dinner a cultural show where interested schools exhibit something from their country. Nicole will sing a tango while Camila, María Jesús, Ignacio and Alan will dance.

Tomorrow, Friday, sees the beginning of our return journey.

Steven Page – Headmaster & Rector