Ladue science students reflect on middle-schoolers’ own “super bowl”
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above: Cindy Wang and jason Ding above right: Felix Hu, Seema Patil and nevan Giuliani
ess than two weeks after Super Bowl 50, those with better things to do with their brains than vicariously fret about concussions can look forward to another competition at once similar but, paradoxically, altogether disparate: the Missouri Regional Middle School Science Bowl. That event, commonly called “MoSciBo,” will take place Feb. 20 at Washington University in St. Louis – and last year’s Ladue Middle School (LMS) victors fondly recall their win. In the 2015 MoSciBo, LMS, which placed second the year before, triumphed over 18 other teams from 10 other middle schools across the state. “Last year was an exceptional experience,” recalls Martin Long, who teaches eighth-grade science at LMS and coaches its MoSciBo competitors. “The team we took to regionals at Wash U. was impressive. They did extremely well and took first place, winning them (and me) an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Science Bowl held in Washington, D.C.” Sponsoring the national competition is the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy, whose website states the event confronts students with “a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math,” similar in format to your average TV quiz show. Among other restrictions, the event’s organizers limit the number of statewide teams to 28 and dictate that teams comprise no more than four competing students, plus an alternate. Three of last year’s LMS victors – the fourth being Moses Schindler – told LN about their recollections. “I had a really good impression of the science bowl,” says Felix Hu. “The coordinators were nice, the competition was well-organized and the other teams offered very good competition.” Seema Patil, one of his teammates, agrees. “I thoroughly enjoyed going to science-bowl competitions last year – they were not only interesting and enjoyable, but also gave an adrenaline rush every time we competed,” she says. And Patil and Hu’s captain echoes them. “It was quite impressive, competing at a nationally ranked university setting,” recalls Nevan Giuliani. In D.C., Long notes, the LMS team placed a respectable eighth, winning them a $1,000 cash prize for their top-10 finish. “The national experience was a little more intimidating, with the top teams from around the country present,” he says. Giuliani reflects on the responsibility he felt then. “As the captain, it was essential that I remained confident and
communicated that confidence to my teammates,” he says. “The actual competition was pretty nerve-wracking,” Patil says. “Since the science bowl was still fairly new to us, we were not as confident, but we still felt somewhat prepared since we all studied for the competition.” Hu concurs with her. “I was nervous, definitely, but knowing what we were capable of, I also got a sense of certainty,” he says. Similarly, each of the student trio recalls their win as significant. Giuliani calls the regional victory “a wonderful experience,” adding, “It provided inspiration to pursue new challenges.” Hu expands on his captain’s assessment. “The science bowl changed me quite a bit,” he states. “I had to plan out my work and study a lot – I still do today. It also gave me a sense of competition outside of Ladue.” And Patil expands even further on Giuliani’s and Hu’s plaudits. “Since I focused on studying chemistry, I still am able to use the knowledge I gained from studying last year in classes today, such as biology when we did biochemistry,” she says. “My life was greatly impacted – science-bowl nationals was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in my life, and I was able to take away knowledge, great relationships with people there, and I was able to spend several days in Washington, D.C., doing what I love – science.” The students’ coach agrees with the three. “We have benefited greatly from the experience gained last year,” Long says. “We have changed our training methods, and the $1,000 cash prize has been used to purchase two new lock-out buzzer systems for this year.” He adds that LMS has extended the MoSciBo program to all three grade levels there. Giuliani and his two teammates all commend the MoSciBo experience to younger students. “It’s a really fun and engaging experience,” states Hu, and Patil notes, “It not only is an amazing experience for you, but will also make you a better, smarter person in the long run.” In the best of all possible worlds, of course, Giuliani, Hu and Patil’s successors on this year’s Ladue MoSciBo team might even provide invaluable insights to their hulking, helmet-clad counterparts in the National Football League’s annual Nielsen fest, like “f = ma.” That equation is one any of the three, in all likelihood, could easily define as “force equals mass times acceleration.” Missouri Regional Middle School Science Bowl, science.energy.gov
LadueNews.com | january 2, 2016
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