University News
Annual Science Olympiad at WIU February 9
February 4, 2008
MACOMB, IL - - More than 250 middle/junior high and high school students will visit Western Illinois University on Saturday, Feb. 9 to demonstrate their scientific knowledge and technological skills at the 21st Annual Illinois Science Olympiad Regional competition.
There will be competition in events such as "Wright Stuff," where students design, build and test rubber band powered airplanes, and "Balloon Launch Gliders," in which students test in-flight time of gliders released from balloons. Events in Horrabin Hall will include the "Electric Vehicle" event, "Trajectory, Tower Building" and "Bridge Building." In the "Sounds of Music" event, students build and play their own musical instrument.
Other events include map reading, astronomy and science word competitions. The WIU biology department will host events related to cells, bio-processes, amphibians and reptiles, while the kinesiology department will sponsor events in health science and anatomy. Western's physics department will present a physics lab and a circuit lab; and the chemistry department will conduct a chemistry lab event for high school students and a forensics competition for both middle/junior high school and high schools students. All events are designed to promote teamwork, group planning and cooperation while allowing students to experience risk-taking, strategic-thinking and decision-making.
The Science Olympiad will begin with 8 a.m. opening ceremonies in the University Union Grand Ballroom. Events will be held in Horrabin, Currens, Waggoner and Brophy halls throughout the day. The Olympiad's closing ceremonies are scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Union Grand Ballroom where individual event winners will be announced, as well as the announcement of the teams advancing to the Illinois Science Olympiad State Tournament, which will be held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign April 26.
The Western Illinois Regional Science Olympiad is hosted by Western's department of curriculum and instruction's Maurice G. Kellogg Science Education Center and the College of Education and Human Services. Additional support is obtained by the faculty and students of the departments of biological sciences, chemistry, dietetics, geology, kinesiology, mathematics and physics, as well as teachers from local schools.
The following schools will participate:
FULTON COUNTY
Canton High School; Farmington High School; Lewistown High School (Division C, grades 9-12)
Farmington Central Junior High School (Division B, grades 6-9)
Ingersoll Middle School, Canton (Division B, grades 6-9)
HANCOCK COUNTY
Hamilton High School (Division C, grades 9-12)
Hamilton Junior High School (Division B, grades 6-9)
HENDERSON COUNTY
West Central Jr. High School, Stronghurst (Division B, grades 6-9)
MASON COUNTY
Illini Central High School, Mason City (Division C, grades 9-12)
MCDONOUGH COUNTY
Macomb High School; West Prairie High School, Sciota City (Division C, grades 9-12)
Macomb Jr. High School (Division B, grades 6-9)
MENARD COUNTY
PORTA High School, Petersburg (Division C, grades 9-12)
PORTA Jr. High School, Petersburg (Division B, grades 6-9)
MERCER COUNTY
Aledo Jr. High School (Division B, grades 6-9)
PEORIA COUNTY
Illini Bluffs High School, Glasford (Division C, grades 9-12)
PIKE COUNTY
Griggsville-Perry Middle School (Division B, grades 6-9)
SANGAMON COUNTY
Rochester High School (Division C, grades 9-12)
TAZEWELL COUNTY
Pekin Community High School (Division C, grades 9-12)
WARREN COUNTY
Monmouth-Roseville High School (Division C, grades 9-12)
The Science Olympiad was created in 1983 by Gerard J. Putz and Jack Cairns to increase interest in science and as an alternative to traditional science fairs and single-discipline tournaments. Today, the Olympiad has members in all 50 states totaling more than 12,000 actively participating K-12 schools.
For more information, contact Don Powers, Western Illinois Regional Science Olympiad director and WIU professor of curriculum and instruction at 309/298-1258.
Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
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