On Friday and Saturday, students compete in a state science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
According to a UAF release, Science Olympiad is a national competition that enables students to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics by working together and engaging in hands-on learning. Students have been preparing for the competition by studying and practicing building skills since October, communications manager Cherissa Dukelow explained. K-12 students compete at the local, regional, and national levels for Science Olympiads.
Dukelow said this is the first time UAF has hosted the competition. Previously, the statewide competition was held in Mat-Su Valley.
The winning team will go to the 2023 Science Olympiad National Tournament in Wichita, Kansas in May.
Ryan Middle School, Barnette Magnet School, Discovery Peak Charter School, Fairbanks BEST Homeschool, Ladd Elementary School, and North Pole Middle School students will represent Fairbanks and North Pole. Nine teams of six to eight students each from eight middle schools will compete in 16 events, the release said.
Dukelow encouraged residents to watch the building tenders on Friday. She said you can see “the fun of watching middle school kids get excited about STEM, and especially about engineering.”
The bridge, wheeled vehicle and trebuchet events will take place in the Palazzo Usibelli, while the flight event will take place on Friday at the Student Recreation Center. Students will participate in an event called “Codebusters” where students will decrypt encrypted messages and an event called “Green Generation” where students will test their knowledge of green principles.
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.
Learn more at scilympiad.com/ak.
