Grey-Bruce schools face off in NII Explore Science Olympics

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Published May 26, 2023  •  4 minute read

Members of a Sacred Heart High School team take part in the “Sir Mix-A-Lot” competition as part of the Nuclear Innovation Institute Explore Science Olympics held at the Owen Sound campus of Georgian College on Friday, May 26, 2023. From left are Sophia Herchmer, Jasmine Voisin, Karina Hahn and Emma Culbert. The object of the competition was to mix mystery solutions to create specific colours within a set time. A total of 11 high school teams made up of 44 students from across Grey-Bruce took part in the event, which included science challenges involving geometry, chemistry, forensics, climate science, engineering and more. Photo by Rob Gowan The Sun Times

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The players were focused, the pressure was on and the rivalry was intense, as close to a dozen teams of Grey-Bruce high school students battled it out to finish on top on Friday.

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But the competition wasn’t played out on a field, in a gymnasium or at an arena. It was in the classrooms and laboratories of Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus, where the Nuclear Innovation Institute was holding its first-ever Science Olympics.

A total of 11 teams made up of four students each, from Bluewater and Bruce Grey Catholic, took part in the inaugural event, which pitted them against each other in challenges involving geometry, chemistry, forensics, climate science, engineering and more.

Phillip Craig, director of NII Explore, said the area has such a strong tradition of athletics in its secondary schools and they want to also create a similar tradition in the area of academics as well.

For some of these kids, when they are going on to post-secondary institutions they are losing out spots, bursaries and things like that because kids in urban areas have things on their resumes that we just don’t have access to,” Craig said Friday. “This is a way to level the playing field, as well as to just celebrate science in the area and all the great work that local science teachers are doing.”

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The challenges presented to the students on Friday put their problem solving and teamwork skills to the test. In one challenge, called Sir Mix-A-Lot, the students were presented with a tray of mystery solutions. They were tasked with mixing the proper solutions to turn one yellow, then dark blue and then back to clear as quickly as possible. In another challenge, dubbed Ice Ice Baby, the student teams had to use data they were provided to identify the age of a number of ice core cross sections and place them in the correct order from the oldest to most recent. The Labyrinth challenge required the students to use a laser and five mirrors to get through three stages of a maze.

“We want to gameify science and STEM, because the thing is that people always learn best when they don’t realize they are learning,” said Craig. “This is a way for people to exercise their skills and make those connections all while having a great time.

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“When learning is fun it just sticks and it is better for everybody.”

A team from Saugeen District Senior School was just cruising through the Labyrinth challenge set up in one of the college’s classrooms. After they completed their challenge, the members of the team all agreed that they enjoy the problem-solving aspect of science, so when the opportunity arose to put those skills to the test in a competition they jumped at it.

Members of a Saugeen District Senior School team take part in the Labyrinth competition as part of the Nuclear Innovation Institute Explore Science Olympics held at the Owen Sound campus of Georgian College on Friday, May 26, 2023. From left are Jacqueline Fenton, Peter Alpajaro, Clara Howe and Evan Barry. The objective of the competition was to direct a laser through a maze to a target using mirrors. A total of 11 high school teams made up of 44 students from across Grey-Bruce took part in the event, which included science challenges involving geometry, chemistry, forensics, climate science, engineering and more. Photo by Rob Gowan The Sun Times

“I think all of us are probably pretty curious people and I think science is a good way to kind of explore that curiosity,” said team member Evan Barry. “I find that we have a variety in our group. For instance, some of us are may be better at physics, while for others it may be biology. We have been able to see that in the activities we have done so far.”

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“We haven’t really had a lot of opportunities like this in the area, so it was cool to be able to come out, see other schools and find out what they learned compared to what we learned,” added Clara Howe.

Jacqueline Fenton said problem solving is something she really enjoys.

“A lot of this involves puzzles, which are basic puzzles, but you still have to think, and I like that,” Fenton said. “Being able to bounce off of each other has been great.”

Members of a Walkerton District Community School take part in the “Ice Ice Baby” competition as part of the Nuclear Innovation Institute Explore Science Olympics held at the Owen Sound campus of Georgian College on Friday, May 26, 2023. From left are Michael Schuster, Josh Engel, Bethany Bruce and Emma Matheson. The objective of the competition was to organize items immitating ice core cross-sections in order of age based on data they were provided. A total of 11 high school teams made up of 44 students from across Grey-Bruce took part in the event, which included science challenges involving geometry, chemistry, forensics, climate science, engineering and more. Photo by Rob Gowan The Sun Times

Michael Schuster of Walkerton District Community School said his science teacher came to him, asked if he would be interested in taking part in the event, and he agreed to give it a shot. He was glad he did.

“We get to work on our communication skills and collaboration, and I have enjoyed it,” said Schuster. “The puzzles keep getting harder, which has been the best part.

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“It started out easy, and got our minds working.”

The NII—founded by Bruce Power, SNC-Lavalin, ES Fox Limited, Kinetrics, BWXT Technologies and Cameco — has done a lot of programs with elementary students in recent years through its NII Explore program. They have taught hundreds of classrooms of young students coding, electricity and environmental programs, but the event held on Friday is the biggest one held for secondary school students.

Craig said it is the first time a Science Olympics has been held in the area in recent memory, but something the NII is looking to do more of. Next year they plan to take a math contest “to the next level” as well.

Along with Georgian College as a partner, the event involved the University of Windsor, which runs a larger Science Olympics event.

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“With this being our first time we are tapping into their expertise to bring that city experience to rural Ontario,” said Craig.

The winning team from Saugeen District Senior School at the NII Explore Science Olympics held at Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus on Friday, May 26, 2023. From left are Peter Alpajaro, Evan Barry, NII Explore Director Phillip Craig, Clara Howe and Jacqueline Fenton. Photo by suppplied

The winning team on Friday, which ended up being the Grade 12 squad from SDSS, received a championship belt and earned the right to represent Grey-Bruce at the next University of Windsor Science Olympics, where about 60 teams compete annually. They are also invited back to defend their title at next year’s local event.

Dave Shorey, executive director of Georgian’s Owen Sound campus, said the college was happy to be able to partner with the Nuclear Innovation Institute and the University of Windsor to hold the event.

“We are well-equipped because of engineering programs and because of our connection to the energy sector and the health-care sector,” Shorey said. “We have got a lot that we can leverage to be able to benefit the community.

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