International Science Bee Staff

David Madden – Founder and Executive Director

David Madden is the founder and Executive Director of the International Science Bee. Having played quiz bowl for four years at Ridgewood High School from 1995-1999, college quizbowl for two years at Princeton University, and been involved on a full-time basis overseeing International Academic Competitions since 2010, he is well-versed with all the formats, concerns, and issues surrounding academic competition. He is committed to high standards for tournaments, well-written questions, and the growth of academic quiz tournaments throughout the world. He is a former 19-day champion on Jeopardy! as well as a member of the team that won the 2019 Jeopardy! All Star Games tournament, a published art historian, and a runner and skier in his spare time. Aside from the International Science Bee, he also has established the other member competitions in the International Academic Competitions network, including the International Geography BeeUnited States Geography Olympiad, the National History Bee and Bowl and the US Academic Bee and Bowl, among others. He can be reached at david@iacompetitions.com.

Nolwenn Madden – Head of the Middle School and Elementary Divisions and Co-Executive Director of IAC

Nolwenn Madden is the Head of the Middle School and Elementary Divisions and co-Executive Director of International Academic Competitions. Prior to her career in academic competitions, Nolwenn studied at the French grande école EM Lyon where she received a MS in Management. She also worked as a translator for booking.com before launching the International History Bee and Bowl in 2011 and getting about 30 countries involved in it. She has organized and directed hundreds of tournaments for IAC throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the ukulele and the cello, skiing, cooking, and traveling. She can be reached at nolwenn@iacompetitions.com.

Suopeng Gao – Director of International Operations

Suopeng is the Director of International Academic Competitions’ Director of International Operations. He is based in Shanghai, China and directs IAC events throughout Asia. He is also the Director of the 2020 International Geography Bee World Championships. He played quiz bowl for four years at Lexington High School in Massachusetts, where he was also the captain of his school’s National Science Bowl team. Upon receiving his Bachelors and Masters degree in Management from Babson College, he moved to China to pursue a career in education. Since 2016, he has overseen IHBB tournaments in Mainland China as well as assisting with various other IAC tournaments and competitions around the world.  Suopeng can be reached at suopeng@iacompetitions.com