The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. Some events follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology. There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science concepts, process skills and science applications. In addition, during the day there are open house activities that consist of science and mathematics demonstrations, activities and career counseling sessions conducted by professors and scientists at the host institution occurring concurrently with the events.

Many states and regions have organized physics, biology or chemistry competitions, but few have combined all disciplines in one large Science Olympiad. The excitement of many students from all science areas competing and cheering one another on to greater learning caused one school district to coin the phrase "intellete". When they searched for a place to house their newly won Science Olympiad State Championship trophy, the only location available was outside the principal's office in the "athlete" showcase, so they convinced the school board to build an "intellete" showcase. An intellete is any person who demonstrates outstanding performance in an academic or intellectual pursuit (in this case, science). One of the goals of the Science Olympiad is to elevate science education and learning to a level of enthusiasm and support that is normally reserved only for varsity sports programs.

Science Olympiad Successes

The Science Olympiad is modeled after successful Science Olympiad tournaments held in Delaware and Michigan that were introduced by Dr. Gerard J. Putz, Regional Science Center Director, Macomb Intermediate School District in Michigan and Jack Cairns, Science Supervisor, Delaware Department of Public Instruction. In these states, the following observations have been made:

If success can be measured by the number of students attending the competition, then the Science Olympiads are successful. Attendance has increased each year in both states. In Michigan, attendance increased from 600 students participating the first year to over two million today. In Delaware, 95% of the public secondary schools participate. After students attend the Science Olympiad for the first time, they usually return each year until they graduate from high school. If success can be measured by increasing science enrollments at home schools at a time of falling enrollments, then the Science Olympiads are successful. Many schools report increased student interest in science and increased enrollment in science classes. Some schools have reported a doubling of science class enrollments and a need to hire more science teachers. If success can be measured by the number of science teachers across the nation that support the effort, then the Science Olympiad is successful. Last year, over 14,000 elementary and secondary teams from Canada and all 50 states participated in the Science Olympiad programs.

All events require teamwork, group planning and cooperation. The emphasis is on learning, participation, interaction, having fun and developing team spirit. Coaches and students are reminded of the words of Bill Koch (Olympic Cross Country Ski medal winner), who said, "Winning isn't everything. The striving for excellence is - it's the trying and the caring that is important - winning is a bonus."

The first Michigan Science Olympiad competition was held at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield in 1983. The Michigan Science Olympiad Tournament has been held at Michigan State University since 1984. Michigan has also hosted three National Science Olympiad Tournaments: Michigan State University in 1985 and 1986, and Grand Valley State University in 1998.

Cooperation and Competition

The Science Olympiad Steering Committee concurs with research done by Drs. David and Roger Johnson, Dr. Madeline Hunter, Dr. Benjamin Bloom and Dr. Harry Wong that cooperation and teamwork, practicing toward an objective, improving skills through competition and making learning exciting through motivational activities are essential ingredients in attaining academic excellence. Dr. Bloom, in an article titled, "Talent Development vs. Schooling," described the process by which individuals reached extremely high levels of accomplishment. One of his conclusions was that competitions played a major role in the success of each talent area participant. "In each talent field there are frequent events (recitals, contests, concerts) in which the child's special capabilities are displayed publicly, and there are significant rewards and approval for meritorious accomplishments." He said children are spurred to greater learning efforts in anticipation of the public event and that such public events are a means of making the child's progress and development real and important. He concluded that they also bring participants into direct contact with one another and provide opportunities to exchange experiences and to observe and get to know outstanding peer and adult models of the talent.

Other research conducted by Calvin W. Taylor of the University of Utah has concluded, "Extra-curricular training experiences and accomplishments do show noticeable predictive power of later adult performance, achievement, and accomplishments." The value and implication of being involved in such extra-curricular activities as the Science Olympiad is apparent for developing productive high performing adults. With regard to predicting college success other than SAT scores and school grades, Educational Testing Service observed that "productive follow-through" defined as "persistent and successful extra-curricular accomplishment" indeed was the strongest predictor of leadership and significant independent accomplishment and clearly useful in predicting most overall college success.

Divisions and Grade Levels/Team Limit

Currently, there are four Science Olympiad divisions: Division A1 (grades K-3); Division A2 (grades 3-6); Division B (grades 6-9); and Division C (grades 9-12). For Division B, only five (5) ninth graders and for Division C, only seven (7) twelfth graders are allowed. Students must be from the membership school. Recruiting from neighboring schools, districts, counties or states is not permitted. A school is considered to be a separate school if it has a separate administrator. Because middle schools that do not have grades 8 or 9 are at a slight disadvantage, they may invite back any combination of up to five of their last year's seventh or eighth grade students to be part of the team (e.g., a school with grades X-9 can have only 5 students from grade 9; a school with grades X-8 can invite only 5 students back from grade 9 (their last year's 8th grade students); a school with grades X-7 can invite only 5 students back from grade 8 or 9 (their last year's 7th or 8th grade students). However, any given eighth or ninth grade student can compete at only one division level. 

There is no Michigan or National tournament for elementary schools, so they may wish to initiate local, school district or regional competitions.

Membership and Registration

The team membership fee must accompany a completed membership application form  prior to participation in a Regional or State tournament. This fee entitles the member school to a copy of the Science Olympiad Coaches and Rules Manual plus the eligibility to have up to 15 students participate at the first level of competition in your state, i.e., district, invitational, regional, or state tournament. A percentage of winning teams will remain eligible to continue on to the next level. At the national level each state will send one team per division and the states with larger membership will be invited to send two teams per division. It is important that schools submit a membership fee early to receive a copy of the rules. Specific rules have been developed for each event and need to be read carefully so the team can compete successfully. Event rules are revised annually.

Schools are encouraged to develop many teams (some schools involve the entire student body). Most states and regions restrict tournament participation to one team per school, others encourage multiple team memberships. Some schools have as many as ten separate paid memberships and all ten participate in tournaments. State Tournament Directors will notify schools if multiple memberships are permitted. If multiple teams are permitted, each team must have a full membership and a separate coach. Only one team per school is permitted to represent their state at the National Finals. Some states also limit the number of teams that can advance from regional tournaments.

Awards

Athletic-style medals will be given for each event. In addition, championship trophies will be awarded to the Division B and C school teams compiling the most total points during the Science Olympiad tournament. A team may participate in one or all of the events within its division. In addition, scholarships may be awarded to Division C students at some Michigan Regions and at the State Science Olympiad Tournament.