Science Olympiad, a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, will hold its annual Akron Regional tournament on Saturday, March 5, at The University of Akron. More than 400 area middle and high school students will demonstrate their science skills in a series of team events from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The Olympiad concludes with a 4 to 5 p.m. awards ceremony.
Science Olympiad events center on biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology. For instance, competitors can test and characterize a material in “Can’t Judge a Powder,” demonstrate knowledge of the muscular, respirator and endocrine systems in “Anatomy and Physiology,” or solve an engineering challenge in “Junkyard Challenge.”
Promoting fun side of science and engineering
“Science Olympiad, which is a hands-on, highly engaging tournament, brings excitement to science and engineering. The students are very serious about competing in their events and their team’s performance,” says event director Dr. Carin A. Helfer, assistant director of science education outreach for the Akron Global Polymer Academy at UA.
Helfer notes that more than 100 volunteers from UA and beyond contribute to the event’s success. She adds that at least 18 middle school and 13 high school teams are expected at the competition. Of those, six middle and four high school teams will advance to the state competition in Columbus April 30.
Participating schools for the 2011 Science Olympiad include Aurora High, Central Christian Middle and High, Copley-Fairlawn Middle, Crestwood High, Dover High, Glen Oak High, Glenwood Middle, Hudson High, Kimpton Middle, Newcomerstown Middle, New Philadelphia High, Nordonia Middle and High, Oakwood Middle, Orrville Middle, Ravenna High, Revere Middle and High, Rittman Middle, Seton Catholic, St. Augustine, Stow-Munroe Falls High, and West Holmes Middle and High.
For more information, visit Akron Regional Science Olympiad or call 330-972-6104.
About the Akron Global Polymer Academy
The Akron Global Polymer Academy is the educational outreach arm for the UA College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. The AGPA creates and disseminates knowledge about polymer science, polymer engineering, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education through face-to-face teacher workshops, tours and distributive education ventures.
Media contact: Denise Henry, 330-972-6477 or henryd@.uakron.edu.
See also:
Revere and Copley take top honors in Science Olympiad Regionals, Patch.com