MOONSHOT ACADEMY

MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Sybill Chen

Head of Social Science Department

Sybill Chen received her undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at McGill University. She then pursued a dual master’s degree in International History at Columbia University and the London School of Economics (LSE). She is also a PhD candidate in American Legal History at the University of Cambridge.

Sybill has taught a range of courses, including those focused on social science theories and project-based learning, such as Incubator and Social Inequality. The latter offers learners the opportunity to engage directly with Afghan girls living under Taliban rule. The final project involves creating a book and organizing an exhibition that showcases Afghan history, geopolitics, culture, and the learners' correspondence with these Afghan students. Proceeds from the project are donated to their online English school. She also teaches World History and Academic Writing.

Sybill has previously published papers on the Chinese Exclusion Laws in the Philippines as well as the establishment of wentan during the inter-war periods in Northeast China.

Curriculums2

SOSC3909: Explorations of Social Science

What makes a good social scientist? How do social scientists of different subjects approach the same research question?

Explorations in Social Sciences is a survey course designated for learners who wish to pursue the academic track at Moonshot. Learners will have the opportunity to examine a single subject from the lenses of sociology, history, psychology, and economics. By comparing their disciplinary skills and research priorities, learners should start to appreciate the complexity of knowledge acquirement and production. Learners will also be equipped with crucial research and presentation skills necessary for AP Seminar. Learners will produce a research paper by the end of the school year.

SOSC3015: Social Science Project ：Social Inequalities

Why have the rich become richer and the poor become poorer in the past few decades? How does the uneven distribution of education resources contribute to class reproduction? Why does gender inequality harm both men and women?

This course aims to explore a variety of topics related to social inequalities. Through this course, you will identify and reflect on the power structures of society and analyze the factors that perpetuate the current power structure. Moreover, you are encouraged to initiate actions to mitigate identified problems. This course is suitable for learners who plan to apply for the art and incubator track in the next academic year or who are currently enrolled in art and incubator tracks.

Projects3

SDG community challenge

Disciplines/Subjects: Social Sciences，design thinking Key Themes: Sustainability, Marginalized Groups, Community Action Have you ever heard about sustainable development or Sustainble Development Goals? Why are they important? Are they close/relevant to our lives? When more government, organizations, businesses, schools are adpoting SDG in their own daily operation, shall we and can we get more MSAers on board? Your goal in this comprehensive project is to develop a SDG-related campaign to raise community' members's awareness about your chosen topic. This year, we have a specific focus on the interplay of environmental and social problems. You will join the month-long "From Moon to Earth" campaign initiated by the social sciences department, the Blue, and the Green Houses.

Distant Voice

Disciplines/Subjects: History, Political Sciences, Economics Key Themes: Afghanistan, Women, Rights, Empathy At the Same Time, in Different Spaces, How Do Different Lives Unfold? While our children sit in classrooms diligently studying high school courses and completing assignments, what educational and material challenges are Afghan girls of the same age facing just next door, in Afghanistan? As our children dream, plan, and choose their paths for the future, what hopes and disappointments are these Afghan girls experiencing? Without the right to control their destinies, what aspirations do they hold for the future, and what resistance can they muster? Amidst so many inequalities, these girls yearn to be seen and heard. Understanding and seeing their struggles not only illuminates their darkened world but also broadens our hearts and minds. In this project, you will research information about Afghanistan to understand the current living conditions and stories of Afghan women. Your task is to create a storybook about Afghanistan and organize an exhibition on Afghan women. Through these two efforts, you aim to achieve the following goals: Highlight the political, economic, and cultural background of Afghanistan. Present the challenges and struggles faced by Afghan women through their personal stories, offering profound insights through seemingly small narratives, and amplifying their voices. Inspire readers and attendees to take concrete actions and participate in initiatives to support Afghan women. Sell the storybook and donate all proceeds to an online English school for Afghan women.

The Power of Pandemics

Disciplines/Subjects: History, Political Sciences Key Themes: Pandemics, History, Virus, Bacteria Speaking of the aftermath of COVID-19, Melinda Gates believed that “this pandemic [had] magnified every existing inequality in our society — like systemic racism, gender inequality, and poverty.” Gates had made a critical point that diseases and societal tensions are rarely separated. Indeed, there is a reason that we call perpetual social issues, social ills. Where is this global pandemic leading us? What effect - social, political, and cultural - will it create? How do we, as a collective, prevent the next pandemic? We are still amid the torrent to produce a clear vision of the future, so let's pause, and look back in history. For this project, you are expected to create two history magazines (May edition, 2024) catering to students in Grades 5 and Grades 7-8, respectively. Your goal is to introduce and delineate the causes and effects of five pandemics — plague, smallpox, Malaria, Influenza, and HIV/AIDS — to your audience. Keep in mind that you need to demonstrate: the biological and social causes of pandemics the social, political, and cultural effects of pandemics more crucially, the awareness of your audience's ability to read and understand your message Individually, you will also submit a 1200-word essay discussing the causes and effects of your chosen pandemic.