Marshall University’s College of Science is helping bring a new opportunity to science students in grades 6 through 12 this academic year.
The Science Olympiad, which organizers say is the “nation’s most exciting K-12 science competition,” will take place in West Virginia for the first time Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. Winners of the West Virginia competition will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the national tournament in May.
Teams will compete in a series of 23 challenges, including those in life and social sciences; earth and space science, physical science and chemistry; technology and engineering; and scientific inquiry. Topics include entomology, fossils, crime science, bridge building and experimental design. A complete list is available online at www.soinc.org/short_event_descriptions.
Dr. John Winfrey, assistant professor of physics at Marshall who is coordinating the West Virginia event, said that in most cases, individual schools will form teams of 15 students for the competition. However, in the case of more rural locations, a team of students may represent several schools. There are also opportunities for home-schooled students.
Teams may register until Jan. 30, 2015, with registration fees due no later than Feb. 6. Cost per school team is $250, with $60 going to the national organization. Additional teams from the same school are $150. If a potential registrant is unable to pay the fees, some financial assistance may be available by contacting Helen Bonham in the College of Science office at 304-696-4672. Further information on registration and other specifics is available online at www.marshall.edu/cos/communityoutreach/scienceolympiad.
“We are very pleased to bring the Science Olympiad program to West Virginia,” Winfrey said. “We think our state’s students will benefit immensely from this competition.”
Last academic year, 7,000 teams competed in the competition nationwide.
For further information, visit the Science Olympiad website at www.soinc.org, or contact Winfrey by e-mail at winfreyj@marshall.edu or by phone at 304-696-2755.