1,500 young student scientists compete in Wisconsin Science Olympiad April 6 and 7 at UWM

MILWAUKEE _ More than 1,500 young scientists will be experimenting, exploring, building and competing during the Wisconsin Science Olympiad at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7. Several events involving hovercraft, pingpong parachutes and mousetrap vehicles are open to spectators in the Klotsche Center and UWM Student Union.

Students in middle and high schools from all over the state participate in the Science Olympiad. Middle-schoolers will compete in events ranging from Crime Busters to Battery Buggy, and high school teams will compete in categories such as sustainable energy, forensics and herpetology. Complete Science Olympiad information, including details on events and schedules, is available at www.uwm.edu/wso.

“It is amazing to see all these talented students engage with scientific problems and construct innovative solutions,” said Anja Blecking, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry and head of the team organizing the UWM event. “Science Olympiad gives them the opportunity to experience a wide range of STEM activities and practice evidence-based strategies for problem solving.”

Teams can compete in more than 20 events in five major categories. The winning team will be crowned state champion and advance to the National Science Olympiad tournament in Fort Collins, Colorado, May 18-19.

The Olympiad’s opening ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday in the Wisconsin Room of the UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. It will feature visits from owls, turkey vultures, falcons and other raptors, courtesy of the Schlitz Audubon Center.

Prior to the opening ceremony, a STEM Expo runs from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday. It will feature lectures on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as tours and hands-on activities in campus labs. Participants can speak with college student engineers from Engineers Without Borders, get involved in metal casting in the UWM Foundry, or get in touch with the “ooey-gooey” side of chemistry.

Science competitions will run on Saturday from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. An awards ceremony will follow at 4 p.m. at the Klotsche Center, 3409 N. Downer Ave.

About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 25,000 students from 91 countries on a budget of $653 million. Its 14 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2018 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews, and the Sierra Club has recognized it as Wisconsin’s leading sustainable university.