Academic
24 September 2026
STEM Conference 2026
The academic year’s inaugural Lectern Club meeting set a remarkably high bar, weaving together resonant reflections, eloquent arguments, and deeply personal narratives under the overarching theme of Kaizen.
Originating in post-war Japan and famously pioneered by Toyota, Kaizen unites Kai (change) and Zen (good), a philosophy asserting that gentle, continuous, incremental shifts compound into profound transformations over time. Rather than demanding radical or abrupt overhauls, it quietly reminds us that true personal evolution blooms not in grand gestures, but in the quiet discipline of growing just one per cent better each day.
All our speakers embraced this intriguing theme, transforming an abstract concept into a tapestry of courageous, insightful, and at times emotionally raw addresses. Steffi drew upon the modern dilemma of screen time as a striking illustration, demonstrating how tiny, conscious adjustments to our daily routines can gently reshape our habits and character over time. Keisuke offered a poignant glimpse into his younger years, revealing how the aching sting of early sporting failures became the very anvil upon which his present athletic triumphs were forged. Tharshika framed her moving discourse through the high-stakes crucible of the U19 Cricket World Cup, speaking to resilience and self-discovery under the weight of international pressure. Meanwhile, Niran anchored her narrative in the bittersweet ache of her brother moving away, using that poignant transition to challenge the room to ponder what change truly looks like, how progress is measured, and whose scales ultimately weigh our worth.
Selecting victors from so luminous a field was no enviable task for the adjudicators, yet two speeches resonated with undeniable brilliance. Jin claimed top honours in the Short Speech category with a delightfully witty reflection on the art of small steps, drawing on his own journey to prove that consistency will always conquer intensity, before closing with an electrifying call to arms for everyone to pick just one small habit tonight. Gabriel took the prize for the Long Speech category with a deeply vulnerable, heart-stirring account of struggling against the stifling weight of external expectations, discovering at last that he was never a flaw to be corrected, but a unique soul ready to flourish.
In keeping with cherished Lectern Club tradition, Jin and Gabriel now step from the podium to the dais, earning the privilege of returning for the next gathering as esteemed members of the judging panel.
Mr James Leach, HM of Bickerton, Design Technology
