Students compete at Science Olympiad

POTSDAM — Nearly 200 north country high school students converged at Clarkson University on Saturday for a battle of scientific wits that was as much about creative problem solving as it was engineering know-how.

The Adirondack Regional C Division Science Olympiad drew teams from St. Lawrence County and as far away as Plattsburgh, Carthage and Long Lake, said Michael W. Ramsdell, visiting assistant physics professor and regional olypiad coordinator.

"When I started coordinating this six years ago, we had four schools competing. Now we have 19," he said. "This is where, just like for sports, kids can be recognized for achievements in math, science and engineering."

Saturday's contests included the "egg-o-naut," in which teams used water to propel an egg into the air and have it land safely on the ground with the aid of a parachute. Norbert A. Neiderer, Plattsburgh, made the trip to watch his son, Kevin T., compete.

"Physics and math are what he loves," Mr. Neiderer said of his son. "The challenges are really well formed. They really have to think."

Others competed in a distance contest for mouse-trap-powered cars, constructing a Rube Goldberg cause-and-effect device to accomplish specific tasks, and building the lightest bridge to support the most weight.

Clarkson sophomores Matthew G. Tompkins of Redfield and Christopher J. Rine of Camden served as bridge competition officials. The two said they are olympiad bridge-building veterans, having been competitors in high school.

"We have to measure all of the bridges to make sure they're to specifications," Mr. Tompkins said. "They have to have a certain amount of clearance, like they would for a truck or a boat if they were actual bridges."

The officials tested bridges' weight limits by suspending a bucket from their center beams that was gradually filled with sand, up to 15 kilograms. Many of them broke before reaching that weight, but Mr. Rine said he was still impressed by some bridge designs.

"One of them was a platform bridge reinforced by cross-beams underneath," Mr. Rine said. "It was pretty creative."

The contests are just as much fun as they are competitive, said Canton High School students Marina N. Zeledon and Sanford W. Newvine.

"It's my senior year, so I won't get a chance to do it again. I wish I'd come last year," Mr. Newvine said.

Mr. Ramsdell said overall first, second, and third place went to Plattsburgh, Chateaugay and Carthage, respectively. The schools' teams will advance to the state tournament March 19 and 20 in West Point.