Honours biochemistry and biomedical sciences undergraduate Vivian Peng is the student leader for Science Olympiad 2026. (Courtesy of Vivian Peng/University of Windsor)
By Sara Elliott
One Science Olympiad volunteer in particular takes personal pride in the success of the annual event at the University of Windsor.
Honours biochemistry and biomedical sciences undergraduate Vivian Peng is not only the student leader for Science Olympiad, but she was also a participant herself.
The one-day competition attracts the top teenage scientists from around the region to compete in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-based challenges. Various disciplines within the Faculty of Science welcome the high school students to participate in a series of 10 challenges.
In Grade 11, Peng and her friends competed in the competition as the “Little Einsteins.”
“As juniors, our only goals were to simply gain some experience and enjoy the competition as a fun side activity after school. When we ended up placing third, our entire friend group was completely shocked,” says Peng.
A year later, the same team renamed themselves as the “Big Einsteins,” won first place.
“Winning for us meant a lot because it showed how much we had grown over the year, not only as scientists, but as a close group of friends as well,” she says.
The competition fueled Peng’s competitive spirit.
“Not only was Science Olympiad an incredibly exciting after-school activity that allowed me to challenge my knowledge with interactive STEM activities, but it was also a space where I strengthened my friendships with so many like-minded peers with a passion for science,” says Peng.
“I fondly remember hopping on a Discord group call every week to work on the competition, and spending hours afterwards just talking and laughing about the challenges together.”
Peng was in high school when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing the competition online, but that did not deter the students.
“I was very fortunate to have already established a wonderful friend group before the pandemic hit in my Grade 10 year and when the Science Olympiad competition was announced during the pandemic, it felt like the perfect opportunity for our group to work together again,” she says.
“Since we all shared a strong enthusiasm for science, forming our team felt natural and we already had great chemistry with one another.”
This year, 35 teams from 18 schools from Windsor-Essex participated in the competition at the University of Windsor on April 30.
“When I started my first year at the University of Windsor, I knew I wanted to get involved with Science Olympiad and be a part of the amazing committee that organized the event,” she says.
“I hoped to help provide future high schoolers with the same meaningful experience that I had.”
Winning team from Vincent Massey Secondary School stands with Dr. Claudio Verani (right), dean of science. (Courtesy of Michelle Bondy/University of Windsor)
First overall went to Vincent Massey Secondary School, Tecumseh Vista Academy – Secondary placed second overall and Cardinal Carter Catholic High School placed third overall.
First-place team members will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and second-place team members will receive a $500 scholarship for enrolment in a program within the University of Windsor Faculty of Science.
“I believe events like Science Olympiad are so important because they provide high school students with opportunities to apply what they learn from the classroom in an exciting, challenging and collaborative way,” she says.
“Experiences like these truly showcase how science can be genuinely fun for the next generation, which is one of the main reasons I'm so passionate about supporting Science Olympiad.”
Michelle Bondy is an experiential learning specialist with the Faculty of Science.
"Getting to know and work with Vivian over the past six years, starting when her high school team competed in Science Olympiad and then as a student leader during her undergraduate studies, has been a privilege,” says Bondy.
“Vivian has been an incredible ambassador for the Faculty of Science and the University of Windsor, and her leadership on Science Olympiad is just one example."