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Science Olympiad Events
Science Olympiad Tournaments are made up of 23 events. The emphasis for all of the events is on "doing" science rather than on reporting information. Multiple events may occur at the same time, so care must be taken in planning which events you intend to participate in.
Events usually involve two students from one school competing against pairs of students from other schools.
By clicking on the bars below you can see a brief description of the event type and one example event. For a complete list of the 2012 Science Olympiad Events click here.
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Towers - This is a building event. Teams will design and build ahead of time a tower constructed from wood and glue capable of bearing a load. The official rules clearly define the minimum/maximum dimensions that the tower must have. At the competition teams will place their tower on the testing platform, and load sand into a bucket suspended and supported by the tower. The tower will be loaded until either the tower breaks or 15 kg is held, whichever occurs first. This is a building event. Teams will design and build ahead of time a tower constructed from wood and glue capable of bearing a load. The official rules clearly define the minimum/maximum dimensions that the tower must have. At the competition teams will place their tower on the testing platform, and load sand into a bucket suspended and supported by the tower. The tower will be loaded until either the tower breaks or 15 kg is held, whichever occurs first.
Build and Bring Events are engineering events in which students build a device to accomplish a task or goal and the device is tested onsite at the competition. Most construction events have their devices impounded the morning of the competition.
Chemistry Lab - Teams will demonstrate chemistry laboratory skills related to selected topics.
Lab based events include a laboratory activity that will be completed by the students. Event supervisors prepare the lab activity to correlate to the rules and supply all materials not required by students.
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Anatomy - Teams may be viewing any combination of models, pictures, diagrams/charts, or recorded/written descriptions. They will then be asked to answer questions (multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, etc) related to the samples including but not limited to: basic anatomy identification, related diseases and conditions, making observations, inferences, predictions, calculations, analyses and conclusions. Specific areas of study are changed every year and are described in detail in the event rules.
Research based events include a test that involves the use of various resources students prepare and bring with them to the event. Event supervisors prepare the test to correlate to the rules and supply all materials not required by students. Research events can be run as stations or tests, although Science Olympiad does discourage paper and pencil testing that resembles tests given in a classroom setting.
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Write It, Do It - This is a 2 part event. In the first part, one team member will view a constructed object (k'nex, legos, tinker toys, pipe cleaners, styrofoam bowls, magnets, beads, etc) and write a description of how to build it without using any pictures, diagrams, or symbols. The written description will then be given to their teammate who has not seen the object. Given a corresponding set of materials, the team member will then attempt to rebuild the object from the written description.
Process Events require students to demonstrate skills or apply a process that they have practiced before coming to the tournament.
This may include building something, although usually less complex that the devices built ahead of time. Students may be called on to perform chemical lab tests or use geologic data to analyze a geologic problem.
This type of event requires students who can adapt in the testing environment and are able to apply knowledge in "real world" simulations.