Science Olympiad is an extracurricular activity that melds scientific education with competition and teamwork. Through Science Olympiad, educators, students, industry leaders, and the community work together to promote passion for science within an inclusive atmosphere. Science Olympiad was designed to bring hands-on science to secondary school students and introduce key areas of science that are often skimped over during school hours. In this way, Science Olympiad is distinct from other science clubs.
Four levels of competition (invitational, regional, state, national) are held in two divisions (Division B for middle school and Division C for high school). Invitational competitions are designed to prepare teams and also involve more students, as often 2 or even more teams can compete at invitationals. The regional tournament qualifies a school for state, and state qualifies a team for nationals.
At each competition, students compete in groups of 2 or 3 (dependent on rules) in 23 separate events on teams of 15, which involve all areas of science. A complete listing of events can be found below (events rotate each year):
Events
| Life Science | Earth & Space Science | Physical Science & Chemistry | Engineering & Tech (Build) | Inquiry/Nature of Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | Astronomy | Chemistry Lab | Bridges | Codebusters |
| Cell Biology | Dynamic Planet | Environmental Chemistry | Detector Building | Experimental Design |
| Disease Detectives | Rocks and Minerals | Forensics | Gravity Vehicle | Ping Pong Parachute |
| Green Generation | Remote Sensing | It’s About Time | Trajectory | Write It, Do It |
| Ornithology | WiFi Lab | Wright Stuff |
Accreditation
Science Olympiad has been accredited by the following:
- NASSP Student Contest & Activities Approved for 2016-2017
- Combined Federal Campaign and Independent Charities of America “Best in America” Award Winner 2016
- Combined Federal Campaign Educate America Federation Membership 2016
- National Governors Association Center For Best Practices report inclusion: “Innovation America: Building a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Agenda” 2007
- “Champions in Education” Award Winner for Best K-12 Volunteer Activity in the Midwest 2005
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers Building the Future Award Winner 2005
More information on Science Olympiad can be found at soinc.org.
Carmel Science Olympiad at the 2018 National Tournament
