Science Olympians Set to Compete at Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION -- Nearly 1,000 Texas middle and high school students will put their science and engineering knowledge to the test this weekend as they battle for Lone Star bragging rights in the 2008 Texas Science Olympiad, scheduled for April 25-26 at Texas A&M University.

Sixty teams from across the state -- 30 each per middle and high school division -- will participate in the rigorous academic contest, part of a broader national competition that aims to improve the quality of science education in schools. Events are designed to test both the aptitude and imaginations of the next generation of scientists and engineers in a variety of subjects, from biology, chemistry and physics to earth science, computers and technology.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Texas contestants will be joined by a team from High School Thomas Jefferson in Mexico that rounds out the 61-team competition slate.

The two-day contest will kick off Friday with the popular field competitions, scheduled to run from noon to 5 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center on Texas A&M's west campus. All events are free and open to the public, and spectators are encouraged to attend.

On Saturday the competition will move to classrooms in Heldenfels Hall and other adjacent facilities on Texas A&M's main campus. This testing phase is restricted to participants only.

"Texas Science Olympiad offers something for every child, from the academically gifted 'brainiac' to the student who is a talented, hands-on problem solver," says Dr. Nancy Magnussen, director of the Texas A&M College of Science Educational Outreach and Women's Programs Office, which is hosting the event for the seventh consecutive year. "This program also reaches segments of the population that might otherwise be left out of science education programs. For instance, last year one teacher shared her experience of how Science Olympiad provided for the first time a program where ESL [English as a Second Language] students and their families could participate and excel in many of the Olympiad science activities."

All participants compete in one of two respective divisions -- B for middle school, C for high school -- as individuals and as teams representing their schools. The top students and schools in each event will be recognized with medals and trophies, respectively, in an awards ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Bryan Civic Auditorium. The winning teams will advance to the 2008 National Science Olympiad scheduled for May 30-31 in Washington, D.C.

The Texas Science Olympiad is sponsored by the Texas A&M Association of Former Students; the Texas A&M College of Science; the Texas A&M Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Physics; Lockheed Martin; Outback Steakhouse; and the Texas Academy of Science.

For additional information on Texas Science Olympiad, including complete event schedules for both divisions, visit http://outreach.science.tamu.edu/scienceolympiad.asp or contact Bonnie Schiller at 979-862-4996.

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Contact: Shana K. Hutchins, (979) 862-1237or shutchins@science.tamu.edu or Nancy Magnussen, (979) 845-5587 or nancy@science.tamu.edu