Marshall University’s College of Science is bringing the Science Olympiad to West Virginia for its second year. The opportunity is for students in grades 6 through 12.The Science Olympiad, which organizers say is the “nation’s most exciting K-12 science competition,” will take place in West Virginia Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. Winners of the West Virginia competition will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Stout, 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. Jennifer Mosher, assistant professor of physics at Marshall who, along with co-director Melissa Fox, 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. 29, 2016, with registration fees due no later than Feb. 5. Cost per team is $250 and additional teams from the same school are $150 each.
“Last year’s event was a great experience for the West Virginia students who participated,” Mosher said. “This year, we hope even more students will compete in our state.”
Last academic year, approximately 7,300 teams competed in the competition nationwide.
For further information, visit the Science Olympiad website at www.soinc.org, contact Mosher by e-mail at mosher@marshall.edu or by phone at 304-696-3637, or contact Fox by e-mail at melissa.a.fox@k12.wv.us.