Bring Kids to Science - Tiffany & Science Olympiad

My daughter Tiffany Lee likes sciences and is a member of the Lindbergh Highschool Science Olympiad team. Today (2012.04.14), her team spent a full-day competing at the Missouri Science Olympiad State Tournament. The event was held at the campus of Mizzou so they took a school bus ride to and from Columbia, Missouri. I drove to Lindbergh about 9pm to pick up Tiffany. The members of the team seemed exhausted yet happy.

The Lindbergh team qualified for the state after qualifying regionally on 2012.02.04 in Missouri Region 6 Tournament at Lindenwood University.

For the State Tournament, Lindbergh High placed the 8th in team event and Tiffany won a third place in individual competition. Tiffany also placed third in all individual events at the Regional Tournament.


The three events they competed in are: 

• Disease Detective - This event requires students to apply principles of epidemiology to a published report of a real-life health situation or problem. (Food Borne Illness)
• Microbe Mission - Teams will answer questions, solve problems and analyze data pertaining to microbes.
• Fermi - A Fermi Question is a science related question that seeks a fast, rough estimate of a quantity which is difficult or impossible to measure directly. Answers will be estimated within an order of magnitude recorded in powers

Recognized as a model program by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices in the 2007 report, Innovation America: Building a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Agenda, Science Olympiad is committed to increasing global competitiveness for the next generation of scientists.

Science Olympiad

Missouri State Science Olympiad is a non-profit organization that operates under the National Science Olympiad which is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing male, female and minority interest in science, creating a technologically literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers.  These goals are achieved by participating in Science Olympiad tournaments and non-competitive events, incorporating Science Olympiad into classroom curriculum and attending teacher training institutes.

For over 25 years, Science Olympiad has led a revolution in science education.  In the face of shrinking college enrollment in science majors, falling science test scores and a nationwide shortage of K-12 science teachers, Science Olympiad continues to challenge, inspire and inform the academic and professional careers of students and instructors across America.

Science Olympiad Competition

Each team is allowed to bring 15 students who may participate in a variety of events in their skill set.  Practices vary from monthly meetings to weekly study sessions to daily work as tournaments near.  Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division.  Every year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, astronomy, mechanical engineering and technology.

Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on, group participation.  Through the Olympiad, students, teachers, coaches, principals, business leaders and parents bond together a work toward a shared goal.  Teamwork is a required skill in most scientific careers today, and Science Olympiad encourages group learning by designing events that forge alliances.

The prestige of winning a medal at a Science Olympiad tournament, whether regional, state, or national,  is often a springboard to success.


Links:

• Missouri Science Olympiad
• Science Olympiad

Updates:

• 2012.04.14 - original post