Science Olympiad is an American competition where elementary, middle, and high school student teams compete in various science-based events. It began in 1974 with 15 schools competing in biology, chemistry, and physics events. It has since expanded greatly with over 6,700 teams from 50 U.S. states competing annually at the regional, state, and national levels. The goal is to develop a positive scientific attitude among students and help recognize their talents in various scientific disciplines.

1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
SUBMITTED TO,
JEENA MAM
(LECTURER IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE, MMTC, VILAKUDY)
SUBMITTED BY,
(PHYSICAL SCIENCE,MMTC ,VILAKUDY)
JESNA.A
REGISTER NO: 18214354010

2. INDEX
Sl. No: CONTENT PAGE NO:
1
2
3
4
INTRODUCTION
CONTENT
CONCLUSION
REFERENCE
3
4-6
7
8

3. INTRODUCTION
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle
and high schoolteam competition in which students compete in ‘events’
pertaining to various scientific disciplines, including earth science, biology
chemistry, physics and engineering. Over 6700 teams from50 U.S states
compete each year. There are three levels of competition : Regional, State and
National. In addition some states or privates groups offer ‘invitational’
tournaments which excel at the regional and state competitions. Teams which
excel at the regional competitions advanceto the state and then to the national
level.
Winners later receive severalkinds of awards from
ribbons to trophies. Science Olympiad is not associated with the international
science Olympiads which follow a completely different formaland set of rules.

4. CONTENT
The first recorded science Olympiad was held on Saturday, November 23, 1974 at
St. Andrews. Preshyterian Collegein Laurinburg, North Carolina. Dr. Donalb
Burner and Dr. David Wetmore were the originators of this event. Fifteen schools
fromnorth and South Carolina participated in this event. It was a day-long affair,
with competition and demonstrations for high schoolstudents in the areas of
biology, chemistry and physics. Therewere four event periods during this day and
each event period had one fun event (like beaker race or paper air plane), one
demonstration (like glass blowing and holography), and one serious event (like
periodic table quiz or science bowl).
An article by David Wetmore was published in the journalof
Chemical Education in January 1978 documenting the success of recruting
students through science Olympiad. St. Andrews Preshyterian Collegecontinues
to host a science Olympiad tournament to this day.
Mr. ’’John Jack’’ Cairns was a teacher at Dover high schoolin
delaware when he learned about the science Olympiad tournament in North
Carolina. He shared this information with Dr.Dougess R.Macbeth, the Deleware
state science supervisor.Mr.Cairnswas appointed to a steering committee to
organizethe firstscience Olympiad in deleware which took place at deleware
state university in the spring of 1977. A write up in the science Teacher of
December 1977 caughtthe attention of Dr. Gerard putz,who proposed thatthe
programmebe expanded throughoutthe united states. After competition tests in
Michigan at the Lawrenceinstitute of technology and oakland university in 1983
and 1984, Putz and Delewaredirector John Cairns took their plan for a national
competition to the National Science Teacher Conferencein Boston.

5. The first National Tournament of 17 states, held at Michigan State University in
1985. Sincethen the programhas expanded greatly with 60 teams presentin
each division at the National Tournament.
DIVSIONS
There are four divisions in the hierarchy of science olympiad.
Division A1for elementary school(grades k-3).
Division A2 for elementary school(grades 3-6).
Division B for middle school (grades 6-8).
Division C for high school (grades 9-12).
The national tournament and generally state and regional tournaments are only
for divisions B and C. Division A teams usually have separateinterscholastic
tournaments, apartfrom the more common intra- schoolcompetitions. Note that
6th
and 9th
grades havethe option of competing in either of the two divisions in
which they meet the grade requirements and are partof the competing school. A
middle schoolmay only use up to 5 members who have graduated to the next
school.If they arein 9th
gradeor lower. Students in grades lower than the division
in which the school competes in may also be on the team. Teams are restricted to
five 9th
grade or lower. Students in grades lower than the division in which the
schoolcompetes in may also be on the team. Teams are restricted to five 9th
graders for division B and seven 12th
graders for division students may not
participate on multiple teams, eg. A 9th
grader on both a high schooland middle
schoolteam would not be allowed
SCORING

6. The winner of the competition is determined by each team’s overall scoreis then
calculated by adding together the rank of the schoolin all events (eg. 1st
place
recieves 1 point, 2nd
place 2 points etc.) and having the team with lowest overall
scoreis declared the winner. However, it should be noted that somestate
competitions chooseto scorethe competition by awarding more points per place
(eg. 13 points for 1st
place, 12 points for 2nd
place etc.) and having the team with
the mostpoints being declared the winner.
Science Olympiad competitions occur at the regional state
and national level. Normally the top few teams advance fromthe regional level to
state competition, the exact number depending on how many region there are
and how many teams compete.
CONCLUSION

7. Science olympiad is an American elementary, middle, and high schoolteam
competition in which students compete in events pertaining to various scientific
disciplines, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
IThelps the students to get more information aboutthe science subjects. So
these programmes can develop a positive scientific attitude among childrens and
helps to recognizeand nuture their talents.
REFERENCE

8. Nurturing Sciences Young Elite – Haler, Scott
Journalof Chemical Education- Student Recruitment Through Science Olympiad-
Wetmore, David. E
Science Talent Search Through The Years – Ramirez, Eddy