NDSU hosted the North Dakota Science Olympiad on April 21. Approximately 650 North Dakota students in grades 6-12 competed in the state science competition for a chance to advance to nationals.
Throughout the day, students competed in a series of science, technology, engineering and mathematics events to test their competency in the sciences. Activities ranged from building a robotic arm that moves objects to taking a test on the respiratory and digestive system.
“Science Olympiad helps students really delve into and learn science,” said Otto Borchert, co-director for the North Dakota Science Olympiad and a programmer analyst in NDSU’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education. “They have to prepare quite a bit to perform well in the events.”
Teams are comprised of 15 students, with Division B teams having students in grades 6 through 9 and Division C teams having students in grades 9 through 12. Teams in the state competition qualified by being in the top five at a regional competition. Each top-ranked team in Division B and in Division C will represent North Dakota at the national competition at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla., in May.
Students who participated in the North Dakota Science Olympiad also had the opportunity to use U.S. Army flight simulators secured by NDSU’s Army ROTC program. The 60-foot mobile, interactive exhibit allows visitors to experience what it’s like to sit in an Apache Attack helicopter, a Scout helicopter simulator and an unmanned aerial vehicle.
More information about the North Dakota Science Olympiad is available at www.ndsu.edu/olympiad.