How does Science Olympiad work?

Science​ ​Olympiad​ ​is​ ​a​ ​competition​ ​consisting​ ​of​ ​several​ ​events​ ​that​ ​members​ ​can choose​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in.​ ​Generally,​ ​events​ ​are​ ​split​ ​into​ ​three​ ​categories:​ ​building, research,​ ​and​ ​lab​ ​projects.​

In​ ​building​ ​projects,​ ​competitors​ ​must​ ​follow​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of guidelines​ ​provided​ ​by​ ​Science​ ​Olympiad​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​device​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​goal. For​ ​example,​ ​you​ ​may​ ​be​ ​instructed​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​catapult​ ​that​ ​fits​ ​within​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of parameters​ ​while​ ​accurately​ ​hitting​ ​a​ ​target.​ ​In​ ​research​ ​projects,​ ​competitors​ ​will​ ​gather information​ ​relating​ ​to​ ​the​ ​guidelines​ ​set​ ​by​ ​Science​ ​Olympiad​ ​in​ ​the​ ​event​ ​description over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​several​ ​months.​ ​On​ ​competition​ ​day,​ ​students​ ​will​ ​take​ ​a​ ​written exam​ ​and​ ​compete​ ​for​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​score.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​members​ ​have​ ​taken​ ​part​ ​in events​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Astronomy,​ ​Cell​ ​Biology,​ ​and​ ​Environmental​ ​Science.​ ​Lastly,​ ​lab​ ​projects are​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​research​ ​projects​ ​in​ ​that​ ​they​ ​require​ ​students​ ​to​ ​gather​ ​information beforehand​ ​and​ ​take​ ​a​ ​written​ ​exam,​ ​but​ ​they​ ​also​ ​will​ ​be​ ​required​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​a​ ​certain experiment​ ​on​ ​competition​ ​day.​ ​Lab​ ​projects​ ​have​ ​included​ ​topics​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Chemistry and​ ​Optics​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past.

Because​ ​Science​ ​Olympiad​ ​​does​ ​​require​ ​a​ ​considerable​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​effort​ ​and​ ​time​ ​to succeed,​ ​we​ ​encourage​ ​you​ ​to​ ​select​ ​an​ ​event​ ​involving​ ​a​ ​topic​ ​you​ ​are​ ​passionate about​ ​or​ ​skilled​ ​in,​ ​so​ ​that​ ​preparation​ ​doesn’t​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​a​ ​burden!

What happens during weekly meetings?

During​ ​meetings,​ ​all​ ​members​ ​will​ ​update​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​team​ ​on​ ​how​ ​they​ ​are preparing​ ​for​ ​their​ ​event.​ ​This​ ​can​ ​include​ ​any​ ​challenges​ ​you​ ​faced,​ ​obstacles​ ​you overcame,​ ​or​ ​any​ ​other​ ​description​ ​of​ ​how​ ​members​ ​have​ ​progressed.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​expected that​ ​members​ ​will​ ​have​ ​made​ ​marginal​ ​progress​ ​weekly,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​encourage​ ​members​ ​to bring​ ​in​ ​anything​ ​relating​ ​to​ ​your​ ​event​ ​-​ ​your​ ​building​ ​project,​ ​for​ ​example​ ​-​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rest of​ ​the​ ​team​ ​to​ ​see.​

Time Commitment

Like​ ​other​ ​academic​ ​competitions,​ ​Science​ ​Olympiad​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​considerable​ ​degree​ ​of preparation​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​school​ ​on​ ​a​ ​semi-regular​ ​basis.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​expected​ ​that​ ​team​ ​members dedicate​ ​time​ ​for​ ​their​ ​events​ ​accordingly​ ​as​ ​competition​ ​day​ ​approaches.​ ​In​ ​addition, parent-student-coach​ ​meetings​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​monthly​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​the​ ​team​ ​is​ ​on​ ​the right​ ​track.​ ​Members​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​these​ ​meetings​ ​along​ ​with​ ​at​ ​least​ ​one parent/guardian.