We can’t beat James Clemens in everything. But our Science Olympiad team will get another shot at them in the state competition on April 12, so maybe we can.
Science Olympiad is a competition involving virtually every field of science, from biology to physics to chemistry. Each school’s team consists of groups of two or three students who compete in fifteen different events, examples of which include “materials science” and “elastic launched glider.” A complete list can be found on the Science Olympiad website.
According to junior Siddhu Srikakolapu, at the regional competitions, each school is awarded one point for every event its students win. The school with the most points at the end, in this case James Clemens High School, takes home first place. Bob Jones finished third and thus will advance to the state competition along with the top two teams.
Srikakolapu, one of the few experienced members of the Bob Jones team, says it is worth noting “the lack of experienced team members returning for this Bob Jones team in comparison to the senior leadership James Clemens enjoyed.
Senior and Science Olympiad participant Shannon Lambert is optimistic about the team’s chances in the state competition. Lambert told Patriot Pages, “We have lots of high-caliber courses at Bob Jones that help with the events. The whole team is great at both beforehand research and quick thinking during the events.”
Regardless of the outcome, Science Olympiad is a rewarding experience for all involved. “Science Olympiad involves lots of critical thinking, which is key in any aspect of today’s society. More people involved in Science Olympiad means more people developing their critical thinking skills,” Srikakolapu said.
In addition to advancing students’ ability to think outside the box, the Science Olympiad competition attempts to foster an understanding of and appreciation for science in America’s youth. Both of these objectives are crucial in the effort to re-establish the United States as a world leader in science-related education.
The mission page of the Science Olympiad’s website cites their primary goal as creating “a passion for learning science by supporting elementary and secondary Science Olympiad tournaments at building, district, county, state and national levels with an emphasis on teamwork and a commitment to excellence. Opportunities like these enrich the reasoning ability of America’s future leaders.
Best of luck to our Science Olympiad squad at the state competition.
