REPORT - PIPS - Philosophy in Public Spaces

2025 VCE PIPS REPORT

PIPS @ The Science Gallery 16 September 2025

How much time do you spend on your devices? What if you could make a pledge to take back all those hours of doom-scrolling? What would you do with your time instead? This was the ‘Pledge Drive’ challenge posed at our latest Philosophy in Public Spaces (PIPS) event in September, where year 12 students from five schools around Victoria engaged with the exhibition DISTRACTION hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Science Gallery. 

Alongside artworks like Epic Sock Puppet Theatre, the Deviation Game, Capitalist Clock and Minute Lines, students engaged in philosophical dialogue exploring the ubiquitous role of technology in our lives. Conversations delved into deep links with the year 12 curriculum, where questions were posed about the relationship between time and the good life, the problems of misinformation and AI for how we form beliefs, and the implications of leaving behind a digital footprint that can never be erased.  Students had the opportunity to apply their understanding of the VCE Unit 3 and 4 texts to the problems posed by each of the exhibits.

The fabulously supportive educators at the gallery hosted a hands-on workshop called Detect AI, where the students created their own world of ‘misinformation’ to explore the ethical challenges of ‘fake news’ in social media. As a final wrap-up, students had the opportunity to use the exhibition as a stimulus to develop philosophical writing skills. 

One of the most rewarding aspects of PIPS is the opportunity for us to leave our own silos and echo-chambers. It was wonderful to see the students engage with peers from different schools in open, respectful dialogue. We may not have solved all of these age-old questions, but we certainly recognised why they are difficult, challenging and still so relevant in the digital age. 

Our exit pass was to make our pledge – how will we reclaim our time? What should we do with it to live the best life? What would you do?

VCE PIPS Team - Ben Reeves and Bonnie Zuidland