Teens from US and Canada head to Israel for International science competition
Taking science exams may not sound like ideal summer plans for most teenagers, but for 10 American teenagers, not only is talking science fun, it also means a trip to Israel.
At first they were just 10 of over 200 anxious bright science-oriented eighth and ninth graders hoping to make the grade. Then after two multiple-choice exams and several evaluations, they became 10 of the 22 American, Australian, British, and Canadian teenagers who will gather this August in Israel with 25 Israeli contestants to further test their science knowledge.
This year’s highly popular “Olympiyeda” – Israel’s international science contest for teens deals with the theme of “Sporting Science”. The term Olympiyeda is a combination of Olympics and yeda, the Hebrew word for knowledge.
During their three-week study/travel program in Israel, the youngsters will participate in a ten-day science camp sponsored by the Israel National Museum of Science, attending sessions at the Wingate Institute for Physical Education, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and Weizman Institute for Science, and at the Israel National Museum of Science Education Center. The program will culminate with eight finalists from all the participants competing in a nationally televised competition.
Now in its twelfth year, the Olympiyeda competition, a four stage event, for science-oriented eighth and ninth graders was created to broaden their interest in science and connecting them to the science community in Israel, according to Zvi Jankelowitz, Executive Director of the American Friends of the Israel National Museum of Science.
The ten-member U.S. delegation:
Jessica August, Akiba Hebrew Academy, Lower Merion, PA
William Bendetson, Weston High School, Weston, MA
Shapsi Burekhovich, Yeshiva of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School, Brooklyn NY
Esther Feldblum, Maimonides School, Brookline, MA
Nathaniel Greenbaum, Latin School of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Noah Kippley-Ogman, Highland Park Senior High School, MN
Nathaniel Lichtin, Newton North High School, Newton, MA
Jason Moser, Beth Tfilloh Community School, Pikesville, MD
Daniel Oppenheimer, Twin Cities Jewish Middle School, MN
Jonathan Safran, New Jewish High School, Waltham, MA
For more information regarding the 2001 or 2002 Olympiyeda, contact Zvi Jankelowitz at the American Friends of the Israel National Museum of Science 617-964-5025 or e-mail: israelscience@mediaone.net
PRESS ADVISORY: A farewell reception for the U.S. and Canadian delegation will be held at the Best Western Carlton House, JFK Airport, 138-10 135th Avenue, Jamaica NY 11436 on Monday, July 30, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. Press coverage is welcome.