Science Olympiad, a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, will hold its Akron Regional tournament on Saturday, March 6, 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 in Memorial Hall on the UA campus.
Science Olympiad events center on biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology. For instance, competitors can send eggs airborne in “Egg-O-Naut,” help relieve the world of its oil dependency in “Battery Buggy” and diagnose a dangerous outbreak in “Disease Detectives.”
“Science Olympiad gives middle and high school students the opportunity to put their scientific knowledge to the test in a highly competitive and team-oriented environment,” says event director Dr. Carin Helfer, assistant director, science education outreach, Akron Global Polymer Academy. Helfer adds that a team of more than 100 volunteers from the University and surrounding communities contribute to the tournament’s success.
UA volunteers to help with tournament
“Science Olympiad gives middle and high school students the opportunity to put their scientific knowledge to the test in a highly competitive and team-oriented environment,” says event director Dr. Carin Helfer, assistant director, science education outreach, Akron Global Polymer Academy. Helfer adds that a team of more than 100 volunteers from the University and surrounding communities contribute to the tournament’s success.
At least 25 middle school and 15 high school teams are expected at the competition. Of those, seven middle school and four high school teams will advance to the state competition in Columbus on April 17.
Participating schools for the 2010 Science Olympiad include Aurora High, Central Christian Middle and High, Copley-Fairlawn Middle, CHEC Homeschool, Crestwood High, Cuyahoga Falls High, Dover High, Frank Wiley Middle, Glen Oak High, Glenwood Middle, Harding Middle, Kimpton Middle, Mayfield High, Monticello Middle, Newcomerstown Middle, New Philadelphia High, Nordonia Middle and High, Oakwood Middle, Orrville Middle, Ravenna High, Roxboro Middle, Revere Middle and High, Seton Catholic, Shaker Heights Middle, St. Augustine, St. Sebastian, West Holmes Middle and High, and Woodridge High.
The competition takes place from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with an awards ceremony from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
For more information about the Akron Regional Science Olympiad, call 330-972-6104 or visit Science Olympiad.
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.