Middle schools to compete in Alaska Science Olympiad

The Alaska Science Olympiad will convene Feb. 23-24 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The olympiad is part of a nationwide competition consisting of hands-on, team-based tournaments designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Twelve student teams from 13 middle schools across Alaska will compete in 17 events, ranging from written subject tests to construction of planes, roller coasters and wheeled vehicles. Students will travel from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Homer, Kenai and Kodiak to compete with Fairbanks North Star Borough students. The winning team will advance to compete nationally at Michigan State University May 24-25.

The Alaska Science Olympiad is organized by the Alaska National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, and the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics.

Generous sponsors of Alaska Science Olympiad include the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, ConocoPhillips, Alaska 529, Alaska Blue Economy Center, Alaska INBRE, Brian Rasley, the Westmark Fairbanks and Sophie Station Suites.

You can learn more about Alaska Science Olympiad at https://www.alaska.edu/epscor/events/science_olympiad/.

Contact Tara Borland at taborland@alaska.edu for more information.

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