UAF to host Science Olympiad for the first time

Cherissa Dukelow
907-474-5581
Feb. 21, 2023

Four male students wearing goggles kneel in a gymnasium and focus their attention on a wheeled mousetrap.
Bob Buckley, courtesy of Science Olympiad Inc.
Participants at the 2019 Science Olympiad National Tournament at Cornell University calibrate their mousetrap vehicle.

Science Olympiad will take place Feb. 24-25 at the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks, which is hosting the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ student competition for the first time.

Science Olympiad is a nationwide competition consisting of hands-on, team-based tournaments designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering and math fields. 

Nine student teams from eight middle schools across AVÀÇÂÛ̳ will compete in 16 events, ranging from written subject tests to construction of bridges, planes and trebuchets. Students will travel from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Delta Junction and Kenai to compete with Fairbanks students. The winning team will advance to compete nationally.

The building competitions are open to spectators and take place on Friday, Feb. 24, on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus in Fairbanks. The bridge (9:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), wheeled vehicle (3:30-5 p.m.) and trebuchet (3:30-5 p.m.) events will be in the Usibelli Building, while the flight event (9:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) will be in the Student Recreation Center.

AVÀÇÂÛ̳’s Science Olympiad is organized by the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, and the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics.

Contact Tara Borland at taborland@alaska.edu for more information.

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