Missionary Boomerang
How does contact with other cultures change our own? TOK integration in World Religions featuring the enlightening research done by Prof. David Hollinger, UC Berkeley.
Greening the Grid
Research ideas related to Prof. Andy Hoffman’s description of concrete measures needed to reinvent our current power grids to make them more efficient and environmentally-friendly.
TOK Title Tips, Part 1 – Getting Practical
Key points that students should take into account in the construction of their TOK essay – no matter which title they have chosen.
Fundamental or Accidental?
TOK in Action featuring astrophysicist Scott Tremaine: To what extent can we determine if what we observe is an inevitable consequence of a fundamental law or simply happenstance?
Crystallographic Conundrums
Research ideas related to Prof. Paul Steinhardt’s Indiana Jones-style discovery of quasicrystals, solids whose atomic arrangements violate centuries-old laws of physics and crystallography.
Exploring PT 6 – A Wholly Necessary Discussion
Exploring the key notion of necessary and sufficient conditions and the difference between “depending” and “wholly depending”.
Undue Influence
TOK integration in psychology: Prof. Matthew Walker on the nature of appropriate evidence for a scientific theory. Under what circumstances do authority figures inhibit the development of knowledge?
Computational Complexity
Pioneering quantum cryptographer Prof. Artur Ekert and the notion of computational complexity, a way of objectively distinguishing between “easy” and “hard” mathematical problems.
Exploring PT 5 – Everything’s A-OK
Navigating various nuances and concepts associated with PT 5, in particular how a divergence of views correlates with areas of knowledge.
The Lower Ground
TOK Integration across the DP curriculum: How do we know when common societal stereotypes are false?
The Anthropic Principle
Great research ideas related to The Anthropic Principle featuring Noble Laureate Tony Leggett with several areas of investigation highlighted.
Exploring PT 4 – Plunging In
Tackling prescribed title 4 while exploring the difference between an analytic approach and plunging into the world of analogies.
Fake “Fake News”?
Integrating TOK in history, global politics and philosophy: How do we know when our collective moral standards are slipping?
The Derveni Papyrus
The story of the Derveni Papyrus, the oldest surviving European manuscript, and the wide range of fascinating related research topics to explore.
Exploring PT 3 – Leading With Our Gut
Highlighting different ways of looking at PT 3 with specific suggestions for students while exploring how we can be sure that we think that something matters.
Historical Illumination
The real-world connection between TOK and physics: Under what circumstances can examining the past help guide future discoveries?
Phantom Limb Pain
Research ideas: investigating the phenomenon of “phantom limb pain” which can be used to probe a wealth of issues related to the structure of our brains.
Exploring PT 2 – Sharpening Our Definition
Investigating the different nuances and concepts associated with TOK essay prescribed title #2 for May 2020 with specific suggestions for students.
Pondering Proof
The real-world connection between TOK and mathematics: How do we know when something has been mathematically proven and what role does intuition play?
Chinese Characters
Prof. Michael Berry, UCLA, discusses the impact of the decision by the Chinese government to simplify Chinese characters in an effort to raise literacy rates.