Sensational Science Olympiad Stars Sizzle

From environmental chemistry and forensics to bridge building and trajectory, the Jamesville-DeWitt High School Science Olympiad team strives to reach the peak of their ability as various competitions approach.

Members of the team described SO as a team of people working on different fronts of science. The team has two general categories into which the members are split. There are both academic and building events that the students prepare for and compete in.

Overall, there are 23 events in SO competition, however J-DHS competes in 22 events. Some of those include Elevated Bridge, Forensics, Trajectory and Mousetrap Vehicle. While some of the events require students to study both provided and individually researched information, other events are more hands-on.

Students are expected to build models, such as a car powered by a mousetrap, and do various test runs to improve it until it is ready for competition. Students work in groups (usually pairs) to complete work for their events.

Another event in SO is Disease Detectives. In this event, students are tested on their knowledge (from independent and group study) of diseases.

According to the Science Olympiad Division C Rules Manual, Disease Detectives is an event that requires students to "˜use their investigative skills in the scientific study of disease, injury, health, and disability in populations or groups of people with a focus on the effects of population growth on public health outcomes.' Competing in this event are sophomores Sam Wormuth and Emily Bazydlo.

The team meets every Monday as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays. At J-DHS the SO team is advised by technology teacher Larry Stroh and biology teacher Michael Keenan.

"[Science Olympiad] piggy-backs on what is taught in class," said Mr. Stroh. He said that the workload for SO is challenging if the members are doing it right.

On January 30th, the J-DHS SO team placed second in Regional competition held at Le Moyne College.

"Competitions increase in intensity," said sophomore Carolyn Mooney. " The tests get harder and we have to continue to improve our machines."

Members agreed that the atmosphere of competition varied depending on the moment. Usually, excluding the time set apart for events, the atmosphere remained relaxed.

The competition that took place before Regional competition was the Invitational Competition at Palmyra, a town just east of Rochester, New York. Here, SO took first place. Invitational competition does not determine whether or not the team can move forward in competition.

However, since the team placed second at Regional Competition they and the other top five (only the top five SO teams at Regional competition can go to State competition) SO teams qualify for State Competition. State Competition takes place March 19 to March 20. It is a located at West Point Military Academy just north of NYC.