As we reflect on a successful Grade 10 Personal Project Exhibition earlier this month, we are sharing an overview of selected students’ personal projects.
The Personal Project is a six-month independent, student-led inquiry into a topic of the student’s choosing, and the culmination of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Here, students choose a topic that is truly personal to them, set a learning goal which they would like to achieve, and decide what “product” they would like to create to showcase their learning.
We are kicking off the series with high school student Malak, who created a children’s book exploring the revolutionary scientific and mathematical discoveries of the Islamic Golden Age, and their lasting impact on the modern world.
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Why did you choose this project?
As a Muslim living in a non-Muslim country, religion has always been a really important part of my identity, but also something that sometimes made me feel isolated or different. I wanted to challenge stereotypes surrounding Muslims by showing the major scientific and mathematical contributions Muslim scholars made during the Islamic Golden Age.
The project felt personal to me because I remember feeling alienated as a child, so I wanted to create something that could make younger Muslim children feel proud of their heritage. I also wanted non-Muslim children to learn about a part of history that is often overlooked in mainstream education.
I chose a children’s book because I felt younger audiences are easier to positively influence and educate in an engaging way. The project also combined a lot of my personal interests, including science, history, art, and design.
What was the impact of your research?
I realised that if I didn’t properly understand the discoveries myself, I wouldn’t be able to explain them clearly or simplify them accurately.
I researched far beyond what was actually included in the final product because of my genuine interest in the topic.
I became more patient and reflective as a learner, especially when trying to understand difficult scientific concepts or articles. The project helped me become more confident as an inquirer because I learned to question sources, compare perspectives, and research independently.
What were your biggest takeaways?
My biggest takeaway was learning how to research and inquire independently. This project taught me the difference between collecting facts and actually understanding a topic deeply. I also developed patience and resilience when working through difficult scientific concepts that I didn’t initially understand. Another major takeaway was realising how influential the Islamic Golden Age was on modern science, medicine, astronomy, and engineering.
Personally, the project made me feel more connected to and proud of my own identity and culture.
What was your favourite part of the process?
Learning about scholars like Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Jazari, and Ibn al-Nafis had a huge impact on me because I didn’t realise how advanced their discoveries were. I was surprised by how many modern scientific ideas and technologies have roots in discoveries made during the Islamic Golden Age. Another major impact was realising how overlooked these contributions are in education and mainstream history.
The part I enjoyed most was combining creativity with research. I liked turning complicated scientific ideas into something colourful, engaging, and understandable for children. Creating the illustrations was probably my favourite part because I enjoy art and design outside of academics as well. I enjoyed having the freedom to choose which scholars and discoveries interested me most rather than following a strict assignment structure. Seeing the project slowly develop from research notes into a finished physical book was really rewarding. I especially enjoyed learning purely out of curiosity instead of revising for an exam or memorising information. Overall, the project changed how I think about learning, research, and history.
Thank you, Malak, for sharing your curiosity with us!
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