News at Friends Academy

Five US students compete in Science Olympiads and bring home medals

Written by Andrea Miller | Feb 28, 2024 8:51:52 PM

A group of Upper School students competed and medaled in the recent Nassau County East Regional Science Olympiad Tournament. The five scientists showcased their research in three events – Air Trajectory, Tower, and the Fermi Event.

Alvin Deng '26 and Daren Zhong '26 (pictured above) teamed up and won 5th-place medals in the Fermi Questions event. In this event, teams provide answers to a series of science-related questions that seek fast, rough estimates of a quantity, which is either difficult or impossible to measure directly.

Alexander Pietraru '25 and Sofia Schwarz '26 collaborated in the Air Trajectory category, where the pair constructed a device using wood, PVC pipes, and soda bottles to launch projectiles – ping-pong balls – onto a target.

Sofia additionally worked with Taylor Price '26 on Tower, where they created a structure from wood and glue right before the event that was able to bear a load the day of the competition.