Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science (PRISMS) hosted the inaugural Science⁺ Bowl Tournament on Feb 8, 2025, a unique competition for middle school students. The event brought together nine public and private school teams from Princeton, Lawrence, West Windsor, Plainsboro, and Cranbury, as well as teams that came all the way from Morris and Bergen counties.

What made this tournament truly unique were the students who volunteered to organize and run the event. Spearheaded by PRISMS seniors Justin Feder and Josh Shi, students were fully responsible for the tournament-from writing original questions to serving as moderators, timekeepers, and scorekeepers.

In addition to the traditional questions found in a conventional Science Bowl, the PRISMS Science⁺ Bowl was elevated with questions based on engineering and computer science, reflecting PRISMS' signature programs in these fields. Some questions were also drawn from ongoing research projects conducted by PRISMS juniors and seniors, giving participants a unique glimpse into real-world scientific exploration on campus. Beyond the competition, participants enjoyed interactive STEM activities and a math-inspired dance performance by PRISMS students and teachers.

The tournament's unique Swiss-round system ensured that no team was eliminated early, and all enjoyed a full day of competitive matches, with the two strongest teams facing off in a dramatic final. The Cosmic Curators team, composed of Easton W, Donna B, Saanvi M, and Neha M from Community Middle School in West Windsor-Plainsboro, emerged as the tournament champion. Meanwhile, two teams from Princeton Charter School secured second and third place.

"We are thrilled about this victory," said Easton W, captain of the winning team. "This event was both fun and enriching. The volunteers managed everything seamlessly from start to finish, and the questions were exceptional. It was a delight to compete alongside peers who share a passion for science while learning and growing throughout the experience." Reflecting on the tournament's success, Ms. Celik, coach of the Princeton Charter School teams, shared: "The tournament was exceptionally well-organized and a truly enjoyable experience. The questions, thoughtfully written by PRISMS students, were clever and accurate and provided the perfect challenge for middle schoolers. The use of the Swiss system -- a unique feature of Science⁺ Bowl -- ensured that all teams had the opportunity to compete throughout the day, keeping the excitement high. The students appreciated the chance to engage with teams from other schools in front of a supportive audience and were particularly impressed by the captivating chemistry and engineering demonstrations." "The atmosphere was amazing! The staff was incredibly responsive and kind, and they created an amazing, fun experience for all the teams," shared Nikolai M, an 8th-grader and team captain from Charter.

The success of the event was made possible through generous donations from PRISMS parents and alumni. We also greatly appreciate the support of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, with special thanks to Ms. Deedee Ortiz, Program Manager of the Science Education Department, for providing equipment such as buzzers and a time/scorekeeping app, as well as for her assistance with outreach to school coaches.

With a resounding success in its debut, the PRISMS Science⁺ Bowl Tournament has set a new standard for STEM competitions in the region, inspiring young minds and strengthening the local STEM community.

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