Construction and Emergence: Elite Scholar Students Present Their Research
On April 15, BAID held the final exhibition for its Elite Scholar course, themed Construction and Emergence. Over eight months, twenty-four students completed projects from selecting a topic through research and presentation. Their work spanned Law and Communication Studies, Sociology and Cultural Studies, and Mathematical Modeling.
Students guided visitors through their research records and final work. Topics included autonomous driving legislation and consumer rights concerning prepared meals, teenagers' AI use and typhoon prediction. Reports demonstrated careful use of literature and clear methods, with independent academic arguments. Displaying research records publicly for the first time also allowed visitors to see how students had developed their work.
Understanding the Theme
In her opening remarks, Vice Principal Zhou Hui explained the theme. Construction referred to students actively developing frameworks and analytical models through research methods. Emergence described new perspectives arising when those methods were applied to actual situations. She reviewed four years of themes, from Every Step Counts and Cut, Grind, Polish to Gazing at the Waves, Weaving the Dimensions and Construction and Emergence. Each reflected further development in research methods and thinking.
She also announced that Beijing Academy would introduce its first BAID student research paper review in 2026. She encouraged students to build on the exhibition and pursue opportunities at district and city levels, and beyond.
Student Projects
A Grade 11 Cultural Studies student, Liu, investigated hospice volunteers' experiences and support systems. Interviews with five volunteers suggested motivations including curiosity about death and previous volunteering, as well as family bereavement. Service could be rewarding while creating emotional exhaustion or conflicting roles. Liu proposed discussions led by experienced volunteers, simulations to clarify responsibilities, and financial and psychological support as practical improvements to hospice volunteering.
Grade 10 Sociology student Ju researched school counselors' roles in adolescent mental health. Interviews with three experienced counselors indicated concerns about younger ages of onset and greater severity, alongside increased identification of difficulties. Counselors described responsibilities in teaching and counseling, training and coordination. Their work offered essential support and developmental guidance, strengthened students' abilities and connected different sources of help. Challenges included unclear responsibilities and limited coordination between medical and educational services. All three identified enthusiasm for their work as a reason to persevere. Ju recommended clearer job descriptions and closer collaboration among teachers and counselors, with parents, to support students.
Varied Questions and Research Development
The twenty-four projects addressed consumer rights and cultural psychology, healthcare and family life, sport and transport, and the internet and new tools. They combined current concerns with attention to everyday needs. Over eight months, students developed literature-reading methods and research plans, gaining direct experience of academic investigation.
Over four years, Beijing Academy and university specialists developed a program connecting topic selection and research, presentation and review. This exhibition demonstrated the approach: mentors helped students develop curiosity into organized investigations, while discussion with others encouraged new ideas.
Student Reflections
01 Ju Zimu
Hosting the Elite Scholar closing ceremony on April 15 gave me an opportunity to reflect on a period full of exploration and research.
I thank the school for its excellent resources and the university instructors and teaching assistants for their continued support and professional guidance.
The program produced twenty-four distinct projects. Each student worked to understand a particular group or problem more closely. Alongside research methods, Elite Scholar gave us courage to ask questions and investigate. Across Communication Studies and Sociology, Law and Cultural Studies, and Mathematical Modeling, each project reflected careful thought.
The end of the course offers a beginning for further inquiry. Curiosity and willingness to investigate problems, including listening closely to others, can make even a small event the basis of meaningful research.
02 Dong Pengmai
I was honored to present first at the closing exhibition. My project examined the relationship between teenagers' celebrity fandom and parenting styles. Interest in fandom and a desire to experience research brought me to the course.
Research proved rewarding again and again. Teachers praised my proposal defense and paper, along with my final presentation, helping our exhibition begin positively.
I learned that investigating actual concerns about growing up can resonate with others. Sustained research also requires conviction and commitment beyond the courage to begin. Thank you to the school leaders and teachers for guidance, and to my peers for encouragement. I hope to continue refining this work and improve communication about adolescent development and family education.
We look forward to students continuing their research and sharing it beyond Beijing Academy's exhibition hall.