Congratulations to Year 12 students Samuel Yeow and Matthew Gardner for achieving A* (the highest grade possible) for their Cambridge Independent Project Qualification (IPQ) as part of their uniPATH undertaking last year.

As an enrichment opportunity designed through a skills-based research qualification, the Cambridge IPQ partners Aquinas College with the University of Western Australia to provide an enrichment opportunity that extends well beyond the limits of a traditional curriculum for Aquinas College uniPATH students. The IPQ framework develop skills by carrying out research into a student’s chosen topic, with an aim to foster the acquisition of higher-order thinking skills that universities and employers look for, including analysis, evaluation and synthesis of scholarly information, whilst fine tuning critical reflection and communication skills.

Matthew Gardiner leveraged upon his interest in the medical professional to investigate “How the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine adversely affects the myocardium of adolescent males?" Such a topical research question when considering the ethical implications of the COVID-19 vaccinations and how this research was developing in real time in a rapidly evolving pandemic.

Whilst Samuel Yeow built upon his passion of mathematics and higher order thinking skills in balance with the philosophical considerations of whether Formal Logic can act as a viable substitute for natural, informal reasoning to algorithmically construct the logical determination of societal policy.

Aside from a personal accomplishment and experience in research with a University of Western Australia (UWA) mentor, they will get a 20 point TEA bonus on their ATAR should they choose to study at UWA. Congratulations Samuel and Matthew and a sincere thank you to Mr Brendan Chapman, Head of Academic Studies, for his guidance during the year.