MIT Hosts First Regional Science Bowl for New England Teens

When the final buzzer sounded at MIT's first regional Science Bowl, students leaped from their seats in celebration after a full day of rapid-fire questions that would stump most adults. Lexington High School Team 1 had just clinched victory with a commanding 148 to 52 win, answering questions about everything from Tay-Sachs disease to complex physics.

The Feb. 21 competition brought together 26 teams from 14 schools across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Students in matching dark green Science Bowl t-shirts filled MIT's auditorium, ready to test their knowledge in biology, chemistry, and physics well beyond their regular high school curriculum.

For Lexington's winning team, the victory represented years of collaborative practice and friendship. "We've worked together as a team for so long, it's just such a great feeling to be here with my friends," said team member Jerry Xu, beaming alongside his teammates.

MIT has hosted the national high school Science Bowl for eight years, but this marked the Institute's first regional competition. The new event creates an additional qualifying pathway for New England schools to reach the National Science Bowl in Washington.

Coach Nicholas Gould, a physics teacher at Lexington High School, emphasized what matters most. "It's not about the win, it's the process of getting there, the experiences they take with them and what they learn about themselves and each other," he said.

For many students, the competition meant more than medals. Portsmouth High School student Vritti Mehra simply loves science and wanted to be part of a team that shares that passion.

Katherine Wang from Lexington High School Team 3 highlighted the importance of representation in STEM. "I'm proud to be a girl in this tournament because as you can see, there are not a lot of females here," she said, noting that her mother's PhD inspires her to become her best.

Why This Inspires

Event organizer Jiaxing Wang discovered Science Bowl late in high school and now helps students get the opportunities he wished he'd had earlier. For graduating seniors on both the competing teams and volunteer staff, the event marked a full-circle moment, finishing something they started in middle school.

MIT student Gideon Tzafriri, who presided over the competition, competed in Science Bowl himself during high school. Now as president of MIT's Science Bowl, he's helping create experiences for the next generation of scientists.

The Lexington team heads to Washington for nationals, but the real victory is bigger: MIT's growing investment in young scientists and the passionate students who prove that curiosity and teamwork create something worth celebrating.