Science Bowl Is Right Up Their Alley

By KRISTINA SAUERWEIN

April 28, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — The many scientific mysteries North Hollywood High School scholars have pondered in recent months include the vastness of the human brain, the intricacies of genetics and the inability to dispel a nagging case of the jitters.

“I can’t think of a scientific method for getting rid of nervousness,” said Vinly Eng, 16, a senior. If there was a way, he said, “it sure would be a help now.”

Now being Tuesday afternoon, the day before five students fly to Washington, D.C., to represent Los Angeles and compete against 53 teams from 38 states in the prestigious U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl.

Last year, North Hollywood High took second place in the rapid-fire, high-energy, game show-style contest that tests students’ knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, astronomy, trigonometry, earth and physical sciences, computer programming and related current events.

“It’s an honor to compete against some of the brightest students in the country,” said Koh Ikeda, an advanced placement science teacher who has coached the team through hundreds of hours of study. “At the same time, it can be quite nerve-racking.”

Ikeda laughed. “I wish there was a scientific way to address nervousness.”

At stake is honor, reputation and prizes.

Teams representing Los Angeles, winners of the regional Science Bowl sponsored by the Department of Water and Power, have the best record of any region or state at the national competition, officials said.

Van Nuys High School in 1995 and Venice High School in 1996 and 1997 won the national championship. No other region has won more than two titles.

This year’s winners, which will be announced Monday morning, receive an expense-paid, two-week trip to Sydney, Australia, in July to attend the International Science School. Second- and third-place winners go on one-week field experiences at the Department of Energy national laboratories.

Students said sightseeing excursions before the competition begins on Sunday will help ease their nerves.

“Just going to D.C. is awesome,” Eng said.

Added Iris Ahronowitz, the Harvard-bound science bowl team captain who went to last year’s national competition: “It helps take your mind off competition.”

Lately, the young scientists said, that’s all they’ve been thinking about. During lunch Tuesday, the team scrimmaged with classmates who had placed second in the regional Science Bowl in February.

Ikeda moderated the match in his room, decorated with Styrofoam molecules, fossils, dangling posters of the periodic table of elements and diagrams of ants and paramecium.

“What part of the bird allows songbirds to produce songs?”

The students twitched, tapped their feet and chewed on fingernails before answering correctly: The syrinx.

After the 20-minute practice session, students concentrated on other ways to relieve nervousness. For example, they joked about “cheesy ‘80s movies,” such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Real Genius.”

“The camaraderie and friendships we’ve developed helps,” Ahronowitz said. “After it’s all done, that’s what really matters.”

Friendship and lucky charms, such as a plastic Jack in the Box toy and a stuffed monkey named Dr. Conrad.

“We realize there’s no scientific basis to good-luck items,” said team member Alec Bellanca, 17, a senior. “But they help make us feel better.”

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Science Bowl Sample Questions

Test your knowledge of science with sample questions provided by North Hollywood High School. Answers are below.

1. Approximately how many Earth days are there in the Mercurian year?

A) 111 days

B) 88 days

C) 50 days

D) 25 days

2. The adult human of average age and size has approximately how many quarts of blood?