You Are Not the Centre of the Universe

Putting things into perspective, we are tiny, really tiny.

More on the Beauty of Math

If you think you can't be completely blown away by the beauty of math check out this power point presentation recently shared on Facebook. Creator unknown, but very clever!

The Beauty of Math 

For some reason the music doesn't play but you can still click through the presentation. Prepare to be amazed.

Nature's Math

Why does nature abide by mathematical rules, like Fibonacci numbers and fractal symmetry? Whatever the reason here are some beautiful examples of geometrical plants for symmetry lovers

Hidden Wonders of the Natural World

We live in a world of unseeable beauty, so subtle and delicate it is imperceptible to the human eye. To bring this invisible world to light filmaker Louie Schwartzberg bends the boundaries of time and space with high speed cameras, time lapses and microscopes. At TED 2014, he shares highlights from his latest project, a 3D film titled "Mysteries of the Unseen World," which slows down, speeds up and magnifies the astonishing wonders of nature.

You're A Nerd? So what?

Some of us love reading. Some of us love rugby. Some of us love science. Some of us love music. And sometimes we are judged for the things we love to do. Watch this you tube clip as actor Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation TV Series) responds to a young girl when she asks how to respond to people when they call you a nerd.

Monsters Under the Bed?

Have you heard of Rube Goldberg? Very briefly he was an American cartoonist best known for his cartoons depicting deliberately over engineered gadgets that perform simple tasks in convoluted ways. Many people have created their own Rube Goldberg machines and contraptions, even kids! Have a look at what Audri has created to trap a monster!


Have a go yourself. We would love to see a cartoon or a construction of your very own Rube Goldberg machine. What are you capable of?

Quest is Fun

For those of you requiring a little inspiration to start 2014 take a look at this TedXYouth@Auckland presentation by Tristan Pang. Tristan is a remarkable young man driven by curiosity to understand the world around him. He has clear goals and is well on his way to achieving them. Be inspired!

Live Life Like a Marathon Not a Sprint

Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.

From Slum Dweller to Brain Surgeon: The Amazing Story of Dr Ben Carsen

Wow! On Tuesday Team 4 were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to hear the inspirational story of Dr Ben Carsen. Ben Carsen was raised by his mother in poverty in inner-city Detroit but against the odds became a gifted neurosurgeon at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and was the first surgeon in the world to successfully separate siamese twins conjoined at the back of the head. He has been in New Zealand sharing not only his incredible story, but his beliefs about how to achieve success and reach your goals.  Follow the links below to hear more from this inspiring man.

The Ben Carsen Story in 5 Minutes

Inspiring Words From Ben Carsen

For the full story watch "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carsen Story."

Watch excerpts from the movie below.

 

Sir Ken Robinson and his Amazing Ideas

I stumbled across this amazing, thought provoking video by the world-renowned education, creativity and innovation expert, Sir Ken Robinson. Take the time to watch and think about what he is saying about educating students for the future. What do you think? I would love to hear your comments.
If you are interested in his ideas you can read and watch more about Sir Ken Robinson on his website.

National Young Leaders Day 2011

Recently a group of 10 students attended  the National Young Leaders Conference at the Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland. After a very early start to the day and breakfast at McDonalds en route to Auckland we joined 3000 others to hear some very powerful messages about leadership. Inspiring speakers challenged and encouraged the young people present  to consider what makes great leaders. Nick Tuatasi shared an important message about using our skills to give something back to our communities. How many of us make sure we take the time to do this in our busy lives?

Young New Zealander of the Year



17 year old Jamie Fenton is named Young New Zealander of the Year 2011



Wow! Have you heard of Jamie Fenton? In February this year she was named Young New Zealander of the Year in recognition of her amazing achievements. Jamie credits her success not to being  'gifted,' but to being fortunate enough to have had sufficient support to show what she is capable of.

Read about Jamie and her recent success and consider:

• which of her long list of successes do you think is her greatest achievement? Why?
• what are the things Jamie may have found difficult along her path to success?
• what do you think you could be capable of if given the right support?