BC team travels to D.C. to compete in national Science Bowl
For a lot of high school students, sitting down with a math or biology book is called studying. But for a small group of Bethlehem Central whizzes, it’s preparation for an event that is every bit as competitive and fast-paced as any other sport.
Five members of the BC Science Bowl team recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete against other schools across the country in the annual national Science Bowl. While the team did well in their round robin bracket, coming in third out of eight other teams, it wasn’t quite enough to move on to the sweet 16.
Still, the experience wasn’t all about winning a trophy, said team member Ray Futia, a junior.
It was nice to see everyone together who share a common interest, he said. `It’s almost like a summer camp like feeling, except everyone is wicked smart.`
The Science Bowl quizzes participants on math, biology, physics, astronomy, earth science and chemistry knowledge. Teams face off with the goal of being first to buzz in with a correct answer.
The team also enjoyed a six-day stay in the nation’s capital, with the opportunity to tour D.C.’s many museums and monuments. The trip was paid for by the Department of Energy.
Getting to nationals wasn’t an easy road, though. The Science Bowl team generally meets once a week after school on Mondays. While there are more participants than the four-man competition team, as Science Bowl dates approach the strongest players are chosen to make up the final panel.
The best performers take a lot of time outside of practice honing their knowledge, often in one specific area, said junior Austin Mayron.
`Its like learning science for the sake of science. It’s really energizing,` he said.
Mayron was enjoying his second appearance at nationals, this time along with his brother, senior Jared Mayron.
Being able to study with his brother made a difference in preparation, said Jared, and led him to pursue rounding out his chemistry knowledge.
`That was part of the reason I did chemistry,` he said. `The only thing [Austin] didn’t get was chemistry.`
With three of the competitors set to return to the team next year, confidence is running high for the 2011 Science Bowl.
`Next year, we’ll get to the top 16,` said Austin Mayron.
The Science Bowl has been held since 1991. Sixty-eight high schools participated this year, many of them technical or disciplinary schools.
`A lot of the other schools there were magnet-type schools. They focus on science,` said Paul O’Reilly, an AP biology teacher. He attributed the team’s success to hard work and a skilled and supportive science department.
`We have a special environment, a special community here,` he said.
O’Reilly has been coaching the Science Bowl team since 1997, and has seen six trips to nationals.
He also coaches the Masterminds team, which is in the midst of a regional series of competitions against other high schools. Similar in format to the Science Bowl, Masterminds opens up the subject matter to include history and the arts.
`It’s more of a ‘Jeopardy,’ where they cover everything,` O’Reilly said.
Many of the Science Bowl team members also participate in Masterminds. The team will next compete on May 19 in Niskayuna.
Locally, a team from Van Antwerp Middle School in Niskayuna placed in the top 16 in the middle school portion of the Science Bowl competition, securing a cash prize of $1,000 for their school science department.“