Monday, February 25, 2019

Future innovators will compete in various STEM activities as UNCW hosts the Wilmington Regional Science Olympiad Saturday, March 2.
 
Approximately 1,200 middle school and high school students from the surrounding counties — Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender — will participate in a multitude of STEM activities ranging from engineering to academic content. 
 
“It is very important to provide our young people in this region a rigorous, academic competition that involves hands-on, interactive elements,” said Michelle Hafey, program assistant with the Watson College of Education’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. In addition to the content, students learn how to think critically, work as a team, overcome adversity and have fun while doing it, added Hafey.
 
Six to eight new and intricate events have been added this year, including "Sounds of Music," which requires students to create and tune their musical instrument, and “Circuit Lab.” Circuit Lab challenges students to be familiar with breadboards, a fundamental component for building electric circuits, and be able to determine the value of a mystery resistor in a circuit.
 
Spectators will have an opportunity to observer a selection of engineering activities, such as planes and gliders, mousetrap vehicle and battery buggy. Those events will take place in Trask Coliseum. Many other events open to student competitors will take place in buildings across campus.
 
About 150-200 UNCW volunteers will help facilitate this year's event, along with GE Hitachi volunteers, who will focus on the engineering events.
 
Science Olympiad participants who place will receive a medal. UNCW will award a scholarship to any high school junior or senior that receives a first-place medal in an event. Based on individual event scores, team trophies will be awarded, and a few will be asked to compete in the North Carolina State Science Olympiad Tournament in April.  
  
“When I was a classroom teacher, Science Olympiad was a great motivator for my students. They really embraced the challenge and appreciated being able to work as a team,” said Hafey. “With more than 60 teams competing at the meet, it shows that these young participants have a great interest in the possible STEM careers.”
 
For the complete list of events, visit North Carolina Science Olympiad. The spectator events listed below will take place in Trask Coliseum:  
 
Middle School  
Battery Buggy, 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. 
Roller Coaster, 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. 
Boomilever, 12:15 - 3 p.m.
Elastic Launch Glider, 12:15 - 3 p.m.
Ping Pong Parachute, 12:15 - 3 p.m.
   
High School 
Boomilever, 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. 
Wright Stuff, 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. 
Ping Pong Parachute, 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. 
Mousetrap Vehicle, 12:15 - 3 p.m.
Mission Possible, 12:15 - 3 p.m.

--Kristian Worthy '19

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