This article is about the Science Olympiad competition for secondary schools in the United States. For information on the science olympiads such as the International Physics Olympiad or the International Chemistry Olympiad, see International science olympiad.
Science Olympiad is a primarily American elementary, middle school, or high school team competition that requires knowledge of various science subjects and topics, and occasionally the ability to build things. Over 14,000 teams from the 50 U.S. states and Canada compete each year.
History
"The Science Olympiad began when Dr. Gerard J. Putz, Regional Science Consultant for Macomb County Intermediate School District in Michigan, invited John C. Cairns, State Science Supervisor for Delaware Department of Instruction, to share the Science Olympiad program with Macomb County educators on March 29, 1982. The invitation was prompted by an article on the Delaware Science Olympiad (The Science Teacher, December, 1977) written by Douglas Macbeth, past Delaware State Science Supervisor that was brought to Gerard's attention by Michigan Science Teachers Association President David Larwa. The Delaware Science Olympiad was patterned after similar events in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. After two successful workshops at the Macomb Intermediate School District (March, 82) and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate (January, 83), science education leaders in Southeastern Michigan planned two very successful tournaments at Lawrence Institute of Technology (April, 83) and Oakland University (May, 84)." Science Olympiad Organization
Divisions
There are four divisions in the hierarchy of Science Olympiad:
Division A1 for elementary school (grades K-3)
Division A2 for elementary school (grades 3-6)
Division B for middle school (grades 6-9)
Division C for high school (grades 9-12)
Note that 3rd, 6th, and 9th graders have the option of competing in either of the two divisions in which they meet the grade requirements.
Events
There are twenty-three events in which competitors face off on a single day. Events fall under three main categories: Science Concepts and Knowledge, Science Processes and Thinking Skills, and Science Application and Technology. They are either knowledge-based (i.e. tests or laboratory tasks in earth science, physics, biology, and chemistry)or engineering-based (i.e. participants construct a device to do specified tasks).
Knowledge-based events generally have two participants either taking a test, performing experiments, and mathematically analyzing data.(Cell Biology, Chemical ID, Science Crime Busters)
Engineering-based events have a team of two to three participants. They are to construct a device following a specific event's parameters and test the device against others.(Mission Possible, Robot Ramble, Bridge/Tower Building, Storm The Castle)
The majority of events require two team members, though some require more. If one member is unable to attend an event, the other is able to continue, depending on the event, with the competition, though at an obvious disadvantage.
Team structure
Teams are hosted by the school from which the participants attend. A teacher, parent or student, usually a volunteer, coordinates the team in practice and preparation for the competition. A team can consist of up to 15 students and 2 alternates. In the middle school level, only 5 freshman are allowed to compete on one team, and at the high school level, only 7 seniors are allowed per team. Home school groups may also form teams to compete, and are at no inherent disadvantage.
Scoring
The winner of the competition is determined by each team's overall score. Each school is ranked in every event, based on that event's rules. The teams overall score is then calculated by summing the rank of the school in all events (1st place receives 1 point, 2nd place 2 points, etc.). The team with the lowest overall score is declared the winner.
Competition levels
Science Olympiad competitions occur at a regional, state and national level. Normally, the top four teams advance from regional competition to state. In most states, the top team advances from state to the national competition. Some states with a larger number of teams are able to send multiple teams to the national competition to represent their larger presence. About 60 teams compete at the national level each year.
Some states, most notably Ohio, hold Invitationals as well. These competitions serve as "practice rounds" for qualifying tournaments, and are hosted by individual schools. In the past few years, teams from other states including Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Mississippi have begun journying to Ohio to compete in these Invitationals.
Nationals
The National Science Olympiad competition is held in May at a different university in a different state every year. Teams either stay in student dorms or neighboring hotels.
The competition officially begins on the day (a Friday) before Saturday's competition with opening ceremonies. Usually a noatable speaker, such as a Nobel Prize winner, will give a speech. Following this is the traditional Swap Meet, when all the teams bring bags of state memorabilia to trade with other teams from all over the country. Most popular items include hats, license plates, and tee shirts.
Saturday includes seven time blocks. Each block includes a 50-minute section for each study event, while building events are usually "walk-in," where competitors sign up for a time slot.
That night, there is a semi-formal Awards Ceremorny. It opens with a short speech, then proceeds to announce medals for the top six teams in each event, including trial events (events that do not count to the overall team score). At the end, the top ten teams are awarded trophies.
In some national tournaments, scholarships are awarded to the top teams in each event. In 2005's competition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Chanpaign, first-place winners recieved wavers for a four-year undergraduate tuition. Extra prizes are also given out for certain events: in Disease Detectives (Division C), the first-place team is given tee shirts and a trip for the two competitors and their coach to tour the CDC (Center for Disease Control) facility in Atlanta, Georgia.
Past national champions
Division B
| Year | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Slauson Intermediate School | MI |
| 1986 | Slauson Intermediate School | MI |
| 1987 | Gompers Secondary School | CA |
| 1988 | Irmo Middle School | SC |
| 1989 | Irmo Middle School | SC |
| 1990 | Irmo Middle School | SC |
| 1991 | Grandville Junior High School | MI |
| 1992 | Jenison Junior High School | MI |
| 1993 | Thomas Jefferson Middle School | IN |
| 1994 | State College Junior High School | PA |
| 1995 | State College Junior High School | PA |
| 1996 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 1997 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 1998 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 1999 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 2000 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 2001 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 2002 | Rising Starr Middle School | GA |
| 2003 | Booth Middle School | GA |
| 2004 | Booth Middle School | GA |
Division C
| Year | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Seaholm High School | MI |
| 1986 | Seaholm High School | MI |
| 1987 | Irmo High School | SC |
| 1988 | Haverford High School | PA |
| 1989 | Irmo High School | SC |
| 1990 | Irmo High School | SC |
| 1991 | La Jolla High School | CA |
| 1992 | La Jolla High School | CA |
| 1993 | Grand Haven High School | MI |
| 1994 | Grand Haven High School | MI |
| 1995 | Harriton High School | PA |
| 1996 | Troy High School | CA |
| 1997 | Grand Haven High School | MI |
| 1998 | Solon High School | OH |
| 1999 | Troy High School | CA |
| 2000 | Troy High School | CA |
| 2001 | Harriton High School | PA |
| 2002 | Troy High School | CA |
| 2003 | Troy High School | CA |
| 2004 | Fayetteville-Manlius High School | NY |
| 2005 | Harriton High School | PA |