Rye Neck fourth grader Simon O’Rourke has a prominent role in Alan Alda’s latest project. He even appeared on “The Today Show” with the award-winning actor to promote it.
Rye Neck fourth grader Simon O’Rourke has a prominent role in Alan Alda’s latest project. He even appeared on “The Today Show” with the award-winning actor to promote it. Simon may not be acting alongside Alda, but he has taken on the Flame Challenge contest.
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University helps young scientists share the meaning and implications of their work more effectively. In the Flame Challenge, Alda offered 11-year-olds the opportunity to ask a question they’d like scientists to answer. Over 20,000 students voted for the best question, but Simon’s “What is time?” was the big winner.
Moreover, his class at F.E. Bellows participated in a worldwide assembly via video chat with other schools and Alda himself.
“It has been a wonderful learning experience and the kids will come away with a deeper understanding of the passage of time as well,” said fourth-grade teacher Ellie Speros, who will be attending the World Science Festival with Simon on June 2.
— Janice Llanes Fabry
