Idaho State University physics department to host middle school Science Olympiad on March 17

The Idaho State University Department of Physics will host a regional Science Olympiad on Saturday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Physical Science Building on the corner of 8th Avenue and Carter Street on the ISU campus.  

Seventh- through ninth-grade students from throughout eastern Idaho will represent their schools and communities and compete in teams in a variety of science competitions.

At least 16 teams from Eagle Rock Junior High, Irving Middle School, Franklin Middle School, Hawthorn Middle School, Sugar Salem Junior High School and White Pine Charter School will be competing.

Students will compete with mousetrap cars, rockets, and catapults. They'll also compete in an experimental design challenge, test their knowledge of thermal energy and rocks and minerals, and compete in several other fun science events.

Winning teams will be encouraged to compete in the state competition in Nampa on April 14. The Idaho champion team will be invited to compete in the National Science Olympiad at Indiana University in May.

The Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers.

Steve Shropshire, a professor in the ISU Department of Physics, and ISU students from the departments of mechanical engineering, geosciences, and physics will serve as judges, along with several scientists and engineers from the Idaho National Laboratory.

More information on the Science Olympiad program is available at www.soinc.org.

For more information on the ISU Science Olympiad, contact Shropshire at shropshi@physics.isu.edu or 282-2212.

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