A day of team work and intense preparations in the British School of Sofia (BSS) labs culminated in the presentation of this year’s IB collaborative science projects (CSP).

Multiple groups of IB students came forward to share their ideas and the work they’ve been doing since the start of the academic year to complete a mandatory requirement within the IB Group 4 (Science) practical programme.

A collaborative science project consists of multiple components, the most important ones being:

• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Teamwork
• Planning skills
• Understanding the implications of scientific exploration
• Data collection and analysis

The aim of the project is to encourage science students to appreciate the full societal, environmental, and even ethical impact of scientific research. At the same time, it gives students the opportunity to put emphasis on a topic of interest and dig deeper into the science behind the concept.

Preparations started on the morning of October 16. Filled with excitement, our science labs hosted the teams who put the finishing touches on their presentations while also getting ready to acquaint the BSS community with the outcome of the ongoing efforts leading to the exhibition scheduled to take place later on the same day.

Each presentation focused on a rather distinctive aspect of scientific exploration – from understanding the structure of the human brain to exploring the multiple practical applications of solar energy. The wave pendulum model, DNA and RNA research, and examination of ichthyostega as a species shaped up this year’s IB collaborative science project profile.

Practice-based learning is one of the IB pillars – a concept that’s demonstrated through the extensive amounts of project-centred work that students have to complete before receiving their diplomas. 

Testing a relevant theory through experimentation teaches students about the long journey that scientists undertake to verify their hypotheses. 

What matters even more is the personal engagement and the conviction students have in the theories or scientific concepts they’re testing. Through research and experimentation, each IB student has the opportunity to make the concept their own by completing the project from ideation to analysing the experiment results. 

To sum it up, the IB collaborative science project consists of multiple steps that have to be completed over the course of study.

The main phases include: 

• Conceptualising a scientific theory
• Getting together in groups to explore the topic through a multi-disciplinary lens
• Conducting experiments under the supervision of a teacher to test the theory and concept
• Analysing the results and drawing conclusions
• Presenting the findings in front of the school community

To get their IB diploma, students have to study at least one subject from Group 4 (Science) – biology, computer science, chemistry, physics, etc. The scientific collaboration project may link to theory of knowledge (TOK) or the creativity, activity, service (CAS) component of the IB Diploma Programme. Written reflection upon the completion of the science collab project is also required for the successful finalisation of the process.

More information about scientific learning at the British School of Sofia is available here. To understand the complexities of the IB programme and the benefits it brings to the table, please take a look at the following guide.