On Nov. 11, the UHS Science Bowl team competed in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Science Bowl High School Invitational organized by the MIT Science Bowl Club. The competition marked its first in-person event in two years on the campus of MIT after the previous two years were held online due to COVID-19. The invitational featured a fast-paced buzzer competition where two competing teams faced off answering questions about biology, chemistry, earth science, physics and math. UHS seniors Nathan Ouyang, Julianne Wu, Wendy Cao, junior Yufei Chen and sophomore Feodor Yevtushenko were awarded first place. 

To prepare for this prestigious competition, the team practiced questions on various science topics and reviewed past competition materials. 

“Our Science Bowl team practices a lot together during our weekly after-school practices,” Yevtushenko said. “We do questions that are in the same format as competitions like the MIT Science Bowl and the National Science Bowl. This improves our buzzing skills and deepens our content knowledge.”

Before the event, team members developed their unique strategy as a team. This included collaboration to produce the best answer possible and plan unique seating arrangements. 

“We make seating arrangements so that teammates with complementary strengths can collaborate more efficiently,” Cao said. “We also strategically rotate teammates during matches based on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing team. ”

Throughout the competition, the team was flexible when they encountered a difficult situation or a particular question. 

“Kind of like a football team, adaptability was key,” Wu said. “Just like a football coach and quarterback, our Science Bowl Coach and Captain were able to optimize our strategies and the team’s synergy as we faced different teams and increasingly difficult rounds.”

As a team, the UHS students had to work together with diligence and determination to persist through each round.

“I think one of the key factors of the competition is teamwork,” Chen said. “Whenever there was a problem that was too difficult, we cross-checked each other’s work and computations, especially on math and physics problems.”

Even when their performance was lacking, the team still maintained their plan without getting flustered or uneasy. 

“I learned how valuable it is to stay calm, even if [we were] behind in [the] score,” Ouyang said. “[There were] numerous times we started a game behind and dominated in the second half. I think the whole team did an incredible job at staying focused and not letting any situation frustrate them.” 

The invitational also fostered feelings of excitement and anticipation as some of the team members encountered past opponents. 

“The competition was especially exciting because many of the other teams that we met were old friends, and it was wonderful reuniting with them!” Wu said. “The coaches have also known each other for a long time, some of them for decades, which brought a warm and collaborative environment within the competition.” 

In the end, the UHS Science Bowl team beat Lexington High School’s team in the finals to win first place. The matchup was a repeat of last year’s National Science Bowl final match, which Lexington High School won.

“I was overjoyed when we won the competition, not only because we got first place, but because we were able to overcome last year’s national championships,” Cao said. “Our team was thrilled and proud that all the long hours of preparation finally paid off.”

The UHS Science Bowl team members encourage students who are interested in learning more about advanced topics in science to participate. 

“Science Bowl has been a really fun and rewarding experience for me throughout high school, so I’d recommend anyone who is interested in STEM to join!” Wu said. 

Ultimately, the Science Bowl team members developed a closer comradery over the weekend as their hard work and dedication to the subject were rewarded with a first-place trophy.