{"id":18314,"date":"2013-01-14T15:42:41","date_gmt":"2013-01-14T19:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=18314"},"modified":"2013-01-14T15:52:06","modified_gmt":"2013-01-14T19:52:06","slug":"student-science-superstars-swarm-campus-once-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2013\/01\/14\/student-science-superstars-swarm-campus-once-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Student science superstars swarm campus once again"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Water Quality Testing competition, Fawcett Hall, Science Olympiad Invitational 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

Two thousand middle and high school students flooded the Wright State Dayton campus this weekend to compete in 46 science and engineering events as part of the university\u2019s third Science Olympiad Invitational.<\/p>\n

The invitational was a final test run for the university, which will host the 2013 Science Olympiad National Tournament in May. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend that event, which tests the science smarts of the best teams from around the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything went fairly smoothly,\u201d said CeAnn Chalker, the national tournament\u2019s co-director. \u201cWe\u2019ll be ready to make a good showing in May.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mousetrap Vehicle competition, Student Union Apollo Room, Science Olympiad Invitational 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

Classrooms, labs, auditoriums and gymnasiums in 14 Wright State buildings were used for the invitational, giving the students a chance to explore a college campus. The students finished out the day at an awards ceremony in the Wright State University Nutter Center arena.<\/p>\n

The competition included a wide variety of science-based competitions. Some students tested unique contraptions that have taken months to design and build, such as mousetrap cars, musical instruments and robotic arms. Other students used their laboratory skills to solve fake crimes or conduct simple experiments. Several events involved written tests on everything from food science to astronomy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I really love about Science Olympiad is the energy of the students,\u201d said Wright State staff member Terri Mileo. \u201cIf you watch their faces, you can see their excitement and that drive to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teams from Centerville High School and Shady Side Academy (Penn.) took home first place in their respective divisions.<\/p>\n

Science Olympiad is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of science education, increase interest in science, attract more students to science careers, foster teamwork, emphasize the problem-solving aspects of science and develop a technologically literate workforce.<\/p>\n\n\t\t