Young Scientists Prepare for Regional Science Olympiad
March 6, 2010
Begins 8:45 a.m. Univeristy Gymnasium
Budding young scientists from throughout the region are gearing up for the 24th Annual Stanislaus County Science Olympiad March 6, 2010 at California State University, Stanislaus (One University Circle, Turlock). The event begins at 8:45 a.m. and will end with an awards ceremony at 3:15 p.m. inside the gym. More than 550 students representing area junior and senior high schools will participate in the daylong event. The public is invited to attend, admission and parking are free.
This year’s Science Olympiad is sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), US Bank, CSU Stanislaus, and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County. Roger Mc Neil, Dean of the CSU Stanislaus College of Natural Sciences at CSU Stanislaus, and Barbara Little Student Events Coordinator from SCOE, are coordinating the event. They will join more than 150 volunteers, including SCOE staff and CSU Stanislaus faculty and students, who will judge or assist with the competitions.
“Such competitions inspire the next generation of scientists,” McNeil said. “I am thrilled to see so many junior and high school students coming to our campus to participate in the Science Olympiad and I look forward to a wonderful event.”
The Regional Science Olympiad consists of individual and team events that encourage learning in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem solving and technology. Some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, while others rely on science processes, skills or application. According to Barbara Little, several events require students to build devices prior to the competition, such as Mousetrap Vehicle and Wright Stuff. For Mousetrap Vehicle, students design, build and test a vehicle that uses mousetraps as the propulsion energy, and for Wright Stuff, students design, build and test a propeller propelled aerodynamic device.
“It is fitting that young up and coming scientists are coming to the California State University, Stanislaus campus to demonstrate their scientific skills during this wonderful event,” CSU Stanislaus President Dr. Hamid Shirvani said. “It is our hope that many of these students will continue their education at CSU Stanislaus, home of the Nora and Hashem Naraghi Hall of Science, the Central Valley’s premier science facility.”
The following junior high/middle schools are participating in division B: Blaker-Kinser, Hart Ransom, Hart-Ransom Charter, Hickman Charter, Oakdale, Our Lady of Fatima, Roosevelt, Salida, Savage, St. Stanislaus, Turlock Christian, Ustach, and Yolo. The following high schools are participating in division C: Big Valley, Central Catholic, Central Valley, Ceres, Connecting Waters, Davis, Denair, Downey, Enochs, Johansen, Modesto Christian, Modesto, Oakdale, and Turlock Christian.
The top three teams in division B and division C advance to the Northern California (Nor Cal) Science Olympiad State Finals. This year’s state Science Olympiad will be hosted by the Fresno Region and is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, at Clovis North High School.
Contacts:
Barbara Little, Program Coordinator, 238-1710
Cynthia Fenech, Communications Coordinator, 238-1704
Judy Leitz, Communications Coordinator, 238-1709
March 6, 2010
Begins 8:45 a.m. Univeristy Gymnasium
Budding young scientists from throughout the region are gearing up for the 24th Annual Stanislaus County Science Olympiad March 6, 2010 at California State University, Stanislaus (One University Circle, Turlock). The event begins at 8:45 a.m. and will end with an awards ceremony at 3:15 p.m. inside the gym. More than 550 students representing area junior and senior high schools will participate in the daylong event. The public is invited to attend, admission and parking are free.
This year’s Science Olympiad is sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), US Bank, CSU Stanislaus, and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County. Roger Mc Neil, Dean of the CSU Stanislaus College of Natural Sciences at CSU Stanislaus, and Barbara Little Student Events Coordinator from SCOE, are coordinating the event. They will join more than 150 volunteers, including SCOE staff and CSU Stanislaus faculty and students, who will judge or assist with the competitions.
“Such competitions inspire the next generation of scientists,” McNeil said. “I am thrilled to see so many junior and high school students coming to our campus to participate in the Science Olympiad and I look forward to a wonderful event.”
The Regional Science Olympiad consists of individual and team events that encourage learning in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem solving and technology. Some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, while others rely on science processes, skills or application. According to Barbara Little, several events require students to build devices prior to the competition, such as Mousetrap Vehicle and Wright Stuff. For Mousetrap Vehicle, students design, build and test a vehicle that uses mousetraps as the propulsion energy, and for Wright Stuff, students design, build and test a propeller propelled aerodynamic device.
“It is fitting that young up and coming scientists are coming to the California State University, Stanislaus campus to demonstrate their scientific skills during this wonderful event,” CSU Stanislaus President Dr. Hamid Shirvani said. “It is our hope that many of these students will continue their education at CSU Stanislaus, home of the Nora and Hashem Naraghi Hall of Science, the Central Valley’s premier science facility.”
The following junior high/middle schools are participating in division B: Blaker-Kinser, Hart Ransom, Hart-Ransom Charter, Hickman Charter, Oakdale, Our Lady of Fatima, Roosevelt, Salida, Savage, St. Stanislaus, Turlock Christian, Ustach, and Yolo. The following high schools are participating in division C: Big Valley, Central Catholic, Central Valley, Ceres, Connecting Waters, Davis, Denair, Downey, Enochs, Johansen, Modesto Christian, Modesto, Oakdale, and Turlock Christian.
The top three teams in division B and division C advance to the Northern California (Nor Cal) Science Olympiad State Finals. This year’s state Science Olympiad will be hosted by the Fresno Region and is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, at Clovis North High School.
Contacts:
Barbara Little, Program Coordinator, 238-1710
Cynthia Fenech, Communications Coordinator, 238-1704
Judy Leitz, Communications Coordinator, 238-1709