Writes Harron S (L6th)
Amidst the lush green hills and trees of Kenwood House, the #HowTheLightGetsIn festival delivered big ideas, electrifying debates, and enlightening talks on science, philosophy, and politics, all in a vibrant outdoor setting with colourful tents, including one exclusively for sixth formers.
Of all the sessions, three stood out as especially thought-provoking.
The first was by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Roger Penrose, who appeared in conversation with Brian Cox. Their discussion, Our Future Theories of the Universe, explored the expansion of the universe and Penrose’s bold suggestion that black holes in reverse may have caused the Big Bang. It was fascinating to hear someone of his stature question established ideas, which he related to the idea of ‘inflation’ (in a social and academic context), reminding me that science is never “finished” but always evolving. For me, it was a powerful lesson in keeping an open mind about the many mysteries that still lie ahead.
I also was lucky enough to meet Quantum Physicist, Professor Ivette Fuentes, during her intriguing session on Experiments and the Theory of Everything, where she showcased the many ideas on Quantum Theory and how experimentation can bring us closer to the theory of everything – a hypothetical framework in physics which aims to unify all of the fundamental principles (as well as explaining all particles and fundamental forces). In her lecture, she also introduced me to the idea of superposition – the idea that particles don’t have to exist in one place or state at a time, they can exist in several at once. This especially caught my attention, as Quantum Physics is a very challenging, but also very rewarding field as it relates to topics such as Quantum Computing, which may become the leading factor of advancement in areas like Finance, Healthcare, and Logistics.
Lastly, I was struck by Investigative Journalist Cathy Newman’s talk on Journalism in the Age of Post-Truth. As a Channel 4 News presenter, she reflected on how bias and perspective shape the stories we read. Her words felt especially relevant when so much of our information today comes filtered through social media. Newman’s message made me ponder on how important it is, not only to question the news we consume and be critical of it, but also to play an active role in creating a better-informed future that we can all trust.
In an exclusive interview with Cathy Newman, when asked what advice she has for aspiring students, she said, and I quote: “Work hard, good luck, the future is bright and with students like you, the world will become a better place.”
Overall, #HowTheLightGetsIn was an inspiring experience that, through the wisdom of many different perspectives, has encouraged me to take some of that curiosity and scepticism and apply it – causing me to question assumptions, look for deeper explanations, and try to see issues from multiple perspectives.
Writes Leo B. (L6th)
I met my heroes over the weekend. Philosophy and Politics are my passions, both inside and outside of school.
Talking to Philosophy podcaster and influencer, Alex O’Connor, for two hours as a crowd gathered around us was simply surreal. The same could be said for having a coffee with Jack Lawrence, who I have been following for at least three years, let alone Alain de Botton, whose book Consolations on Philosophy, inspired much thought through ideas such as:
‘It seems implausible that our society could be gravely mistaken in its beliefs and at the same time that we would be alone in noticing the fact.
We stifle our doubts and follow the flock because we cannot conceive of ourselves as pioneers of hitherto unknown, difficult truths.
It is for help in overcoming our meekness that we may turn to the philosopher.’
I have since been determined to ‘overcome our meekness’. My attempts to do so this weekend even led me to meet the man behind these words.
I was also introduced to new thinkers who piqued my interest in new areas of Philosophy, including Tommy Curry, who prompted me in the direction of political philosophy when discussing the socio-economic context and culture around academic philosophy and how it can be improved for generations to come. I then continued this conversation about the future of the philosophical tradition with Christoph Shuringer, associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern University, who has published books on the history of philosophy. I even met Martha Fuentes, who is pushing the limits of creative filmmaking by researching fractals, AI and (now thanks to our input) 4D space in the Cannes film festival.
How the Light Gets In, the world’s largest philosophy and music festival, had talks on everything; from love to politics, and from physics to language. Noone could walk in without being immersed in ideas. This festival isn’t just for the philosopher ‘geeks’ out there. We attended multiple debates by brilliant economists, debating Liberalism, Socialism and beyond. We watched Allister Campbell dig into Kurt Yannis, before I also asked Allister Campbell some very probing questions in front of an audience of hundreds, swiftly followed by a strikingly intimate audience with Campbell in our Sixth Form tent. The festival also covered an array of physics and biology topics. I’m sure you’ve heard of Brian Cox…
If that wasn’t already enough to convince you to attend the festival next time, the music was phenomenal and experimental, and the venues were unique. Folk rock has never been of any interest to me, but now it’ll definitely feature in my playlist. If you’d like to brighten your weekend, and indeed your year, I’d recommend asking yourself… how DOES the light get in?
