COLIN BARBER
How did I become who I am?
To my memory, there was no "flashbulb" moment when I knew I wanted to pursue science. As a middle schooler, science was one among many interests. So I joined my school's Science Olympiad team.
Science Olympiad became my lodestar. I insatiably drove myself to learn, learn, and learn some more, stopping at nothing to fulfill not just a competitive obligation but to quench a thirst for knowledge borne of pure interest. Science Olympiad made curiosity cool.
By the time I enlisted myself for the Microbe Mission event as a high schooler, diligently studying an Introduction to Microbiology textbook cover to cover was hardly unusual. What I did not expect is the trajectory I would take thereafter: my curiosity compelled me to earn a B.S. in Biology, concentrating in Microbiology, and I am now working toward a Ph.D. in Microbiology.
So Science Olympiad tangibly influenced my life's trajectory. At the same time, Science Olympiad shaped me in ways that only became clear in retrospect.
Science Olympiad transforms students into teammates. The ideal teammate, I decided, is someone who relinquishes self-interest, carries an unwavering duty to task, and is radically grateful. Through Science Olympiad, this teammate ethic slowly grew in me and still determines how I comport myself professionally and personally.
The dual influences of Science Olympiad - the reification of curiosity into a professional track and the organic development of my own practical philosophy - motivate me to continue working within the Science Olympiad community eight years beyond high school. After all, part of radical gratitude is recognizing where I can give back.
In 2019, I had the opportunity to speak to thousands of the nation's brightest young minds at the Science Olympiad National Tournament at Cornell University. I took the opportunity to talk about these lessons with the benefit of six years of hindsight. My complete remarks can be accessed below. Some more information on my roles within Science Olympiad can be found below the video.
Service is my core.
Science Olympiad at Cornell
In college, I served on the board of Science Olympiad at Cornell from 2014 to 2017 in various capacities. Year-to-year projects of the chapter included hosting an invitational tournament and engaging with New York State Science Olympiad to coordinate volunteerism. From 2015-2016, I served as co-president. In 2016, our group launched a successful bid to host the 2019 Science Olympiad National Tournament, at which I spoke to 4,500+ attendees.
Golden Gate Science Olympiad
I served on the board of Golden Gate Science Olympiad from 2017 to 2019, primarily as an adviser, director for special projects, and managing our group's restructuring as a 501(c)(3) entity. Chiefly, GGSO hosts the largest and highest-regarded West Coast Science Olympiad invitational every year. Since leaving the board in May 2019, I have aided in diminished capacities, including as an event supervisor.
Science Olympiad Alumni Task Force
In 2017, I approached then-Executive Director for Science Olympiad, Jennifer Kopach, with an idea for a team of alumni to serve as a liaison between the Science Olympiad national office and the Science Olympiad alumni community and to galvanize alumni volunteers. Our team, charged by the Executive Committee to profile the alumni base and kick off four nationwide projects in alignment with Science Olympiad's strategic priorities, recently submitted a report to the National Office detailing our findings and multiple policy recommendations.
MSJE and Hopkins MS Science Olympiad
Since 2017, I have served as an assistant Science Olympiad coach for Mission San Jose Elementary School (2017-2019) and Hopkins Middle School (2019-2020). From September to April, I run two- to three-hour weekly lessons to assist and guide my students in their Science Olympiad work.
Mentions
For my work in the Science Olympiad community
Brown S. “How Science Olympiad launches kids into meaningful careers.” Double Good Blog, 21 October 2019. https://blog.doublegood.com/2019/10/21/how-science-olympiad-launches-kids-into-meaningful-careers/
For my talk at the 2019 Science Olympiad National Tournament
Aloi D. “Cornell to host national Science Olympiad.” Cornell Chronicle, 23 May 2019. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/05/cornell-host-national-science-olympiad