The Big Think | 2025 Winners
St Edmund Hall’s Big Think Competition invites students from across the UK to tackle one of our academics’ ‘big’, tutorial-style questions. This year, we received more entries than ever before, and the standard was exceptionally high – with so many creative and insightful responses! Our panel of tutors had a tough time choosing our prizewinners, but we are delighted to announce the winning entries…
First prize: Alana Cunnane (English)
Alana answered the question ‘What can literature and/or the other arts do that so-called “AI” probably never will?’ St Edmund Hall tutor Dr Tom MacFaul praised Alana’s ‘high-quality evidence’ and ‘well-developed and nuanced argument.’
Second prize: Sahana Sethuraman (Physics)
Sahana answered the question ‘Should we send people to Mars?‘ Professor Carly Howett commented that Sahana’s argument was well-structured, singling out the discussion of orbit and environmental considerations as particularly strong.
Subject Winners
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Economics and Management
- Engineering
- English
- History
- Maths
- Medical Sciences
- Physics
- Politics
- Psychology
Biochemistry
Zoe Haighton answers the question ‘Can we create artificial life in the lab?’
Chemistry
Yasmin Cosgrove answers the question ‘How can chemistry solve the problem of forever chemicals?’
Computer Science
Danisha Basnayake answers the question ‘If artificial intelligence goes rogue, can’t we just turn it off?’
Earth Sciences
Rose Jackson answers the question ‘Can the use of natural resources (e.g. hydrogen, precious metals) ever be truly sustainable?’
Economics and Management
Ayaan Sagar answers the questions ‘With the rise of AI, do we need managers?’
Engineering
Tanish Kolhe answers the question ‘Is nuclear fusion the future of energy?’
English
Holly Dye answers the question ‘What can literature and/or the other arts do that so-called “AI” probably never will?’
History
Tazneem Yusuf answers the question ‘Is the purpose of history simply to help guide our actions in the present?’
Maths
Zosia Kozowy answers the question ‘Should we only study mathematics that is ‘useful’?’
Medical Sciences
Faiza Amin Raisa answers the question ‘What does our brain do while we sleep?’
Physics
Sam Bailey answers the question ‘Should we send people to Mars?’
Politics
Alexander Kirkby answers the question ‘Is there some level of wealth above which society shouldn’t allow people to rise? Why, or why not?’
Psychology
Maja Steglinska answers the question ‘Does intelligence guarantee success?’
Subject Commendations
We’re also delighted to note that the following entries received a Special Commendation for their high quality:
- Henry Jones, Biochemistry
- Joseph Cockbill, Biochemistry
- Rebeca Amaris Molina, Biochemistry
- Vithusha Vijayanathan, Biochemistry
- Elijah Jackson, Chemistry
- Max Taylor, Chemistry
- Hannah Evanson, Computer Science
- Matthew Seaber, Computer Science
- Muhammed Tariq, Computer Science
- Chloe-Isabel D’Souza, Economics and Management
- Tosin Ariyo, Economics and Management
- Amy Bowden, Engineering
- Owen Knight, Engineering
- Zane Radwan, Engineering
- Lewis McCloskey, English
- Benjamin Catlin, History
- Eloise Tindale, History
- Sabiha Ullah, History
- Milan Sidharth, Maths
- Tara Marashi, Maths
- Manyata Prasad, Medical Sciences
- Rhea Gupta, Medical Sciences
- Colm Edwards, Physics
- Isabel Mestre Glossop, Physics
- Lily Coulter, Physics
- Sharvari Apte, Physics
- Freya Wheable, Psychology
- Maria Katrina Abion, Psychology
- Ria Shinde, Psychology
- Tiffany Tai, Psychology
A huge congratulations to all our winners, but also a massive thank you to all our entrants this year! Our tutors were thoroughly impressed and hope to see many of you at university (and maybe even at St Edmund Hall…) in the future.