Sixteen teams of high-school students competed in games and science projects Thursday in the 17th annual Math and Science Field Day at Scottsdale Community College.
The daylong series of activities was highlighted by a science experiment in which students had to calculate the buoyancy of a balloon and then add enough weight to make it rise slowly.
Each team was given a helium-filled balloon with a small stuffed “Artie the Artichoke” — SCC’s mascot — attached to the string.
After the first round, the teams could add or subtract weight using only scissors, duct tape, paper clips and heavy card stock.
“We want to get them to engineer something in an hour’s time using the materials we give them,” said Patricia Dueck, co-coordinator of the event and an SCC residential math faculty member.
Mesquite High School in Gilbert had the slowest rise time, 51 seconds, and won the competition.
Dueck said the college’s Math and Science Field Day serves a dual purpose: It connects SCC with high-school teachers and gives the students a fun and challenging day to share.
“These are the kids who are already in their math clubs and science clubs, but this gives them a chance to be nerdy together all day,” she said. “They’re very spirited competitors.”
The day included exams in algebra, geometry, pre-calculus and calculus, a game-show-type quiz and a carnival of booths highlighting research and careers in forensics, computer science, robotics, biology, math and physics.
The winner of the math and science quiz was Desert Vista High School, which also won the overall competition.
Participating high schools were Betty Fairfax, Chaparral, Corona del Sol, Coronado, Desert Mountain, Desert Ridge, Desert Vista, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Highland, Mesquite, Metro Tech, Raymond S. Kellis, Saguaro, Westwood and Xavier College Prep.