If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate. If the Silver Surfer and Iron Man teamed up, they’d be alloys. Okay, that last joke was sodium funny; I slapped my neon that one. To be honest, terrible puns like these are what most of us think of when someone shouts, “Science!” The Science Olympiad team, however, takes science to a whole new level.

Science Olympiad is an extracurricular activity offered at De Soto High School where students compete with other schools in over 20 different fields of science-related events.

“I think [Science Olympiad] is interesting because it’s a small group and you get to become close with these people while exploring different fields of science,” sophomore Lina Al-Tahhan said.

Sophomore Alysha Bell likes the club for several reasons.

“Science Olympiad is nice because you can make it as hard as you want, depending on how much work you want to put into it,” Bell said. “Last year I signed up for events that required a lot of preparation that I didn’t do. This year I am signing up for more events that I enjoy and find easier.”

Meets can be stressful, according to the students.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” sophomore Rylee Wilson said. “I never walk out of a test feeling like it was easy. You definitely have to push yourself to study and succeed.”

Bell described the atmosphere of Science Olympiad.

“The atmosphere is very relaxed around the rest of the team and a little more tense around very competitive teams from other schools,” Bell said.

The team had its second meet on Feb. 6 at Warrensburg High School. The students placed second in It’s About Time, fourth in Fossils, where students identify fossils and basic facts about prehistoric creatures, and fifth in Dynamic Planet, which is focused on oceanography for 2016. The team also placed sixth in both Geologic Mapping, a test of how well students understand geologic maps, and Hydrogeology, which is oriented around water found on the surface of the planet as well as underground. Overall, the team came in eighth out of 19 teams.

The DHS Science Olympiad team will be competing in Regionals on Feb. 27 at Johnson County Community College.