The Group 4 Collaborative Science Project is a hallmark component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, designed to foster teamwork and collaboration among students from various scientific disciplines.

This mandatory project emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding and addressing complex scientific issues, allowing students to apply scientific methodologies while enhancing their collaborative and communication skills.

In a vibrant display of scientific collaboration, the winning group at this year’s Collaborative Science Project tackled a big question with tiny organisms: Will algae save the world? Their answer? “Possibly—if we farm it right, eat it well, and build smarter.”
 
Spanning five disciplines, the project was a true team effort. ESS students evaluated the sustainability of algae farming and its power to capture CO₂ while reducing land use. Biologists brought the green goodness to the table—literally—highlighting algae’s impressive nutritional content and Physics and Computer Science helped with the design and model the ideal 3D algae farm.
 
What made them stand out? Their interactivity. Spectators young and old took part in chromatography of chloroplasts, peered at algae under microscopes and crunched on delicious snacks.
 
Fun, smart and hands-on, this team showed that algae isn’t just pond scum—it’s a sustainable superstar in the making.