As the school year flies by and we enter the month of March, many may think of March Madness, the exciting NCAA basketball tournament. While it is certainly a thrilling event, the Friends Academy science department has something equally thrilling—March Mammal Madness. This exciting competition blends science with fun, inviting participants to learn about unique organisms through an interactive, bracket-style tournament.
March Mammal Madness is a yearly event run by Arizona State University that pits a diverse group of organisms (not just mammals, as the name misleadingly suggests) against each other in a simulated battle for the title of “March Mammal Madness Champion.” The match-ups aren’t necessarily based on physical combat, but instead are more focused on scientific facts about each animal’s traits, behaviors, and adaptations to different environments. Participants will research and predict which organism will win based on these criteria, and the competition unfolds in a series of rounds, much like the NCAA tournament, with animals facing off until one emerges as the champion.
This year’s competition features an exciting group of participants, with four standout 1st-seed animals leading the pack: the addax, Thorold’s deer, the polar bear, and the ginkgo tree. These top seeds are all unique in their own right, each bringing impressive traits to the tournament: the addax’s resilience in the desert, Thorold’s deer’s endurance in high-altitude environments, the polar bear’s power in the Arctic, and the ginkgo tree’s high endurance to any environment. This year, the ginkgo tree seems to be the favorite to win it all, with its remarkable endurance and adaptability allowing it to thrive for millions of years with minimal change. However, as with every year, there are surprises, and some underdogs may challenge the expected outcomes, bringing unexpected twists to the competition.
To get a better sense of how March Mammal Madness engages both students and faculty, I interviewed several teachers from the Friends Academy science department:
What do you enjoy most about March Mammal Madness?
Ms. Keegan: “I love doing the competition bracket.”
Mr. Burt: “I like that we have friendly competition and camaraderie among faculty and students, and it brings the school together as a community. Everyone talks and gets excited about it, so it’s very fun.”
Vijay: “Oh my god, there’s a lot. I love learning about new animals and plants, and sharing that info with students. And then of course the creativity that goes in, such as how a squirrel defeats a lion, or how something that lives in water defeats something on land. The creativity parts of MMM are always highlights to see.”
How do you think March Mammal Madness engages students in science?
Ms. Keegan: “It causes them to research animals or adaptations that they didn’t know about beforehand. They learn about unique adaptations of certain organisms and get to discover new animals. When Vijay hands out the brackets and students start researching about the animals and plants, they often swing by to ask questions to learn more and gain new perspectives.”
Mr. Burt: “The whole point of MMM is to raise awareness for organisms that are under certain conservation statuses—endangered or vulnerable to extinction. It allows students to be more aware about these organisms that a lot of students might not have been able to learn about under normal circumstances.”
Vijay: “It engages them to learn about ecology and evolution of various animals and plants in the competition. It also branches out into sustainability and conservation issues these organisms are exhibiting, which is ultimately a main goal of MMM. I’ve seen an increase in interest for participating organisms, and it even carries forward to AP Bio, where we talk about animals that participated in MMM when we visit the Bronx Zoo.”
Do you have a favorite organism, matchup, or outcome from past years?
Ms. Keegan: “Not specifically, but it’s always fun when an underdog takes a surprising win. It’s interesting to look at how organisms higher up in the food chain lose for niche reasons.”
Mr. Burt: “I tend to root for big cats, like lions and tigers.”
Vijay: “My personal favorite was the sperm whale vs. giant squid because everybody thought the sperm whale would just eat the giant squid. However, in the end, the giant squid beat the sperm whale. That just goes to show that things in MMM are never certain. It highlights that competition could always go either way. Although sperm whales eat giant squids, not every hunt ends that way.”
What would you like to see changed or improved in future editions of March Mammal Madness?
Ms. Keegan: “I’d like to see the brackets on the wall to increase the community aspect and interest. Maybe students could introduce more about MMM in relation to the brackets, spreading recognition throughout the school. It would be great if it spread into the wider FA community, including Middle and Lower Schools, and we could announce the event in assembly.”
Mr. Burt: “There’s not much I’d change in the school community, but over the past years, the organization that runs it has changed a few things up. I like the cards they had this year featuring the participating organisms that provide a couple fun facts and traits about the organism. They’ve also used different technology to create simulations, and I think the changes they’ve made have been great.”
Vijay: “I would love to see more ‘animals’ incorporated into the competition and more ‘mammals’ specifically. Other themes could also be introduced, not just mammals—like ‘Marine Madness’ or ‘Marsupial Madness.’ I’d love to see more of those types of themes. And it doesn’t always have to be in March. Maybe twice a year, that would be fun.”
As we dive into the excitement of March Mammal Madness, it’s clear that this competition fosters creativity, learning, and community spirit. Whether through researching animals, discussing predictions, or simply enjoying the unpredictability of the matchups, March Mammal Madness continues to engage and inspire students and faculty alike. If you would like to participate in March Mammal Madness and fill out a bracket, swing by Vijay’s office in the 1st-floor Frost Hall science wing and ask for a copy!
