Beacon Academy hosted its annual student-led Theory of Knowledge (TOK) conference, themed ‘The Paradox of Thought’, on September 24, 2025. This remarkable event, planned and curated by dedicated Year 11 and 12 students of the IB Diploma Programme, brought together over 90 participants from schools across Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bogor, and the Greater Jakarta region.
The conference began with an engaging keynote speech by Dr. Marshall Schott, President of Sampoerna University. He captivated the audience by exploring paradoxes in historical thinking and highlighting how historical inquiry requires the critical skills found within TOK to navigate these contradictions.
Student leaders shared that their initial inspiration for the theme came from the classic trolley problem, a thought experiment that challenges our morality and the consequences of our actions. This led them to explore other TOK problems and ultimately land on the concept of paradoxes. As one student leader noted, “Paradoxes made us think deeply… This year, we chose the theme ‘Paradox of Thought,’ which was inspired by the lessons that we learnt in our TOK classes.” Another leader added that the theme aimed to “reveal many different perspectives, mind-wracking, and exasperating views of how we perceive the world and our own minds.”
Participants enjoyed an immersive and thought-provoking day filled with interactive icebreakers, workshops, games, and special events designed to challenge their critical thinking and engage with the quirks of the human mind. The conference concluded with an award ceremony recognising students for their skills and engagement throughout the day. The success of the conference stands as a testament to the collaborative resilience and intentional planning of Beacon Academy’s students, who not only organised a fantastic event but also prompted all who attended to reflect on their own thought processes.
