Welcome to the Ohio Science Olympiad

Next year’s State Tournament is April 17, 2010

It’s time to get ready for science that’s exciting!

The Science Olympiad is North America’s most prestigious team science and technology competition. The Ohio State Tournament will happen on the campus of The Ohio State University on Saturday, April 17, 2010.

This is the place for those beguiled by wizardry. Dozens of events invite great ideas. Students might demonstrate their scientific and artistic skills by drawing scientific terms in “Picture This” or test their aeronautical skills in “The Wright Stuff.” Perhaps, they’ll identify the perpetrators of a crime by analyzing evidence found at the scene in “Science Crime Busters.”

You’ll be in good company. Last year 266 teams representing more than 4,000 Ohio students and teachers participated in the fun and learning that are inherent in the competition. Ohio has been part of the National Science Olympiad program for 25 years, and state participation ranks in the top six of 48 states currently involved in this program.

What is the Science Olympiad?
The Science Olympiad is a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition of 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, sate and national tournaments. The Science Olympiad Tournaments are academic interscholastic competitions, which consist of a series of 23 individual and team events students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers, and technology. There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science facts, concepts, processes, skills and application.

Although Science Olympiad is a competitive event, most events are team competitions requiring 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 caring that is important – winning is a bonus.”

Team Membership in Science Olympiad
Each school team must register and pay a membership fee. The team membership fee entitles one team to participate in the Science Olympiad program and includes the state tournament. No more than two teams from an individual school may register, space permitting at the regional tournament, and each team must pay the full membership fee. Only one team per school may advance from the regional level to the state level.

Divisions/Grade Levels/Team Composition
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 information on Divisions A1 and A2, please contact the National Science Olympiad office at 630-792-1251.

In Division C (grades 9-12), a maximum of five (5) ninth grade and seven (7) twelfth grade students on a team is permitted. Middle schools may invite five (5) of their last year’s eighth grade students to be part of the team. There will be no national or state tournaments for Division A; schools may wish to initiate local, school district, or regional competitions.

A team consists of a maximum of 15 students. A maximum of two teams per division per school may compete. Schools with less than 200 students may combine with another small school (total attendance of both schools not to exceed 500 students) in order to create one team of 15 students. Each team must participate in a regional tournament in order to qualify for state or national competition. A team may participate in one or all of the events within its division.

Home Schooled Students
Ohio extends an invitation to the home school community to participate in the Ohio Science Olympiad. The following guidelines apply to home schooled students:
  1. All students must participate on a team since Science Olympiad is based on team activities. Ohio students may participate in either Division B (grades 6-9) or Division C (grades 9-12). All students on a team must be children who work together on a regular basis prior to and independent of Science Olympiad.
  2. If a home schooled student is also affiliated with any public or nonpublic school, the student may ONLY participate on one team and must choose between the home schooled team and the public or nonpublic team. Public or nonpublic schools may have rules eliminating the participation of part time students.
  3. A child’s grade level equivalency will be determined by birth date. The child’s grade level will be considered the same as the majority of other children of the same age level. The child’s age will determine whether the child is eligible for either Division B or Division C. A middle school (grades 6-9) aged child may compete on a Division C team but a Division C (grades 9-12) aged child may not compete on a Division B team.
  4. If questions arise that are not covered here, please submit them to Rathke.7@osu.edu

Registration
Go to www.ced.osu.edu/scioly for online registration. It’s quick and easy!
The state competition registration fee is $173.00 per 15 member team before November 13, 2009. The fee increases to $188.00 per team if registration and payment are received between November 14, 2009 and December 31, 2009. The registration deadline is December 31, 2009. Teams must compete in a regional tournament in order to qualify for the state competition. Regional tournaments are held in eight locations throughout the state. Once we receive your registration and payment, we’ll send you the Science Olympiad Rules Manual. Registrations cannot be accepted over the phone.

The registration fee includes:
  • Eligibility to participate in the 2010 Science Olympiad Program
  • One copy of either the Division B or Division C Science Olympiad Rules Manual. Extra manuals are available for registered teams for $10.00 each.
Sixty dollars of each registration fee is sent to the National Science Olympiad office to cover costs of administering the overall national program including the development of new programs, fund raising, printing the manuals and organizing the national tournament. The remainder of the fee stays in the state Science Olympiad office to cover costs of administering the overall state program including team registration, regional assignments, working with coaches and organizing the state tournament.

Cancellation Policy
A $35.00 processing and manual fee will be charged for any team cancellation prior to January 1, 2010. Teams cancelling on or after January 1, 2010 will not receive a refund of the registration fee.

Rules Manuals
The manuals are printed by the National Science Olympiad office around mid-September. The manuals are then sent to the state directors for distribution. Manuals will be sent when registration and payment have been received.

Regional Tournaments
Each county has been assigned to a specific tournament. Registrations will be dated as they arrive. Assignment to each regional tournament will be determined on a first come basis. If your regional site is filled, your team will be placed on waiting list. If there are openings in any other regional tournament after the closing date, you will be notified and given the opportunity to participate at a different site. Position on the waiting list will be determined by the date on which the registration is received. If there is a bona fide schedule conflict with the regional tournament to which you have been assigned, each situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis with the coach, the state director, and the regional directors working together.

Each regional tournament is funded through different local sources. Depending on the funding available in your region, it may be necessary for your team to pay an additional regional tournament fee. You can find information about your specific regional tournament and any additional fees at ced.osu.edu/scioly and click on Regional Tournaments. Organizing and conducting a regional tournament requires significant resources. Science Olympiad at all levels relies on donations, grants, in-kind donations, and volunteer efforts. Costs that are not covered by any of these means must be passed back to the teams.

Awards
First, second and third place Olympic style medals will be given for each event at the state tournament. The Science Education Council of Ohio provides support for places four through six medals. In addition, trophies will be awarded to the top ranking Division B and Division C school teams during the state tournament.

Further Information
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact The Ohio State University Office of Continuing Education at 614-292-8860 or Rathke.7@osu.edu. We ask that only coaches/teachers (adults) contact us and not students/parents.