Assumption Hosts State Science Competition

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Building model rockets is just one of the many challenges students can face at the Science Olympiad.

Over 450 middle school students from across the Commonwealth will come to Worcester Saturday to compete in the 28th Annual Massachusetts Science Olympiad.

The event, held on the campus of Assumption College, will feature 23 hands-on events to challenge students in numerous areas of science including biology, chemistry, earth science and engineering. The events change from year to year, but are always designed to boost interest in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

“The Science Olympiad program seeks to support science educators and students by providing them resources and an opportunity to be involved in an exciting, active, and hands-on science competition,” Brian K. Niece, associate professor of chemistry at Assumption said. “Our events are designed with the content of national science education standards in mind, and also to encourage creativity and problem solving.”

The tournament will pit 15 students from each school against each other in the 23 events. The school with the highest score at the end of the competition will move on to the national finals at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Individual students will also be able to win ribbons for their performances in specific events. Assumption has been the host site for the Massachusetts tournament since 2004, and, along with their own student volunteers, will receive the help of volunteer students from several Commonwealth colleges, including MIT, Brandeis and UMass Amherst. Niece, who is also the State Director for the Science Olympiad, believes that it is an honor for Assumption to continue hosting the event.

“Assumption College is proud to host the Science Olympiad middle school state tournament,” Niece said. “It’s just a joy to have so many young people excited about science on our campus.”

The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and competition will run until 3 p.m. throughout Assumption’s campus. The awards ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in Laska Gymnasium.