Educational Institution: Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex, Research High School
Participants: Nare Khachatryan, Katrin Gharibyan, Maria Martirosyan, Albert Hovhannisyan, Robert Mkhitaryan
Grade: 11th grade
Teacher: Mariam Arushanyan
Subject and Working Language: English
Project Period: November 2026
Presentation Date: November 24, 2026
Project Topic: Culture & Identity
About the Project
As part of the “Sebastatsi Days: The Educational Complex Festival” project, we are taking part in a research project called “Earth, According to Us”. The main idea is to create a new message about humanity.
As participants, we have to imagine what we would like to tell another civilization about Earth and humanity. Our choices should show not only what we are proud of, but also the values, stories and ideas that we believe are important for human identity.
Our team represents the Culture & Identity topic. We explore the importance of culture, language, traditions and national identity in human history.
Our Research Topic
Our main question is: Which story, work of art or tradition deserves to be one of the eight choices that represent humanity?
We want to understand what makes a culture special, how it is passed from one generation to another, and how it shapes people’s identity.
During our research, we focus on the following questions:
- How does language express the identity of a nation?
- Why do some traditions continue for hundreds of years?
- How can art tell the story of an entire nation?
- Can people from other cultures understand and appreciate our culture?
- What should we preserve and pass on to future generations?
Our Work Process
In the first stage of the project, we learn about the Golden Records sent into space with the Voyager spacecraft. We study their contents and discuss how we can represent the diversity of humanity through a limited number of choices.
Then, as a team, we start researching possible ideas related to Culture & Identity.
Each team member can suggest a story, work of art, image, object or tradition that they think deserves to represent humanity.
We also pay special attention to Armenian culture. We want to find an example that can introduce Armenia to an international audience.
Our work includes:
- Researching the suggested ideas and learning about their history and importance.
- Using at least two reliable sources.
- Comparing different options and discussing them.
- Writing a short explanation in English for each suggestion.
- Discussing possible opposing opinions and preparing answers to them.
Armenian Culture in the Message to Humanity
It is important for our team that at least one of the final eight choices represents Armenia.
We want to explore which part of Armenian culture can best represent our identity. It could be Armenian architecture, music, literature, miniature painting, language or a tradition.
Our goal is not simply to present Armenian culture. We also want to understand what universal human value we can share through it.
Public Presentation: “What Deserves to Represent Us?”
On November 24, 2026, our team will present its three suggestions in English and explain why they are important.
During the presentation, we will answer questions from other teams and the audience, discuss other possible choices and defend our ideas.
For us, it is important not only to share our opinions but also to listen to other people’s arguments. We may even change our original choices during the discussions.
After discussions and voting, eight out of the twelve suggestions will be selected for the class’s final collection.
Expected Results
As a result of our work, our team will have three researched and well-explained suggestions related to Culture & Identity. At least one of them will represent Armenian culture and identity.
The selected suggestions will become part of the class collection called “Earth, According to Us”, together with their explanations in English.
This project gives us an opportunity not only to explore different cultures but also to think about our own identity, cultural heritage and the values we want to pass on to future generations.
Our main idea is that culture is not just a part of the past that we preserve. It is a part of our identity that continues to grow and is passed on to others.
