(Posted April 26, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Students from 70 high schools and middle schools across Pennsylvania will try to return a raw egg to earth after firing it up in a rocket, construct a vehicle using a common mousetrap and investigate a crime scene at the 2010 Pennsylvania Science Olympiad Finals to be held on the campus of Juniata College, Friday, April 30.

This will be the 19th year Juniata College has hosted the state finals.

"Science Olympiad brings in an incredible amount of talented science students from across Pennsylvania and allows them to compete in challenging events and to discover that Juniata's science facilities are top of the line."

"Science Olympiad brings in an incredible amount of talented science students from across Pennsylvania and allows them to compete in challenging events and to discover that Juniata's science facilities are top of the line," says Ron Pauline, professor emeritus of education and Science Olympiad state tournament site director. "Juniata's long tradition of hosting the Science Olympiad gives faculty, students and staff a chance to work with some of the state's most talented students."

The students will take part in a variety of science projects across campus at sites such as the von Liebig Center for Science, Knox Stadium, the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center and the lawn behind Ellis College Center.

The 2010 Science Olympiad begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues throughout the day, ending with an awards ceremony at approximately 4:15 p.m. in the sport's center's main gym. More than 1,000 students will compete.

Competitors are separated into two divisions: Division B (grades 6-9) and Division C (grades 9-12).

Teams attending the state finals at Juniata qualified by finishing first or second at one of six regional competitions held in March. Teams finishing first or second in the May 1 state finals will go on to compete in the Science Olympiad National Tournament at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Ill., May 20-22.

The Science Olympiad brings out the talents, resourcefulness and skills of young scientists as teams create different science projects for competition in 23 events. The events, which can involve individuals or teams, allow students to think creatively while building an elaborate project.

For example, in Egg-O-Naut, where students design a rocket to stay aloft while carrying a raw egg. The rocket must also return to earth without the egg breaking. Other events include Trajectory, where students design and build a catapult that throws a cloth object into one of two targets, and Mousetrap Vehicle, where students construct a mini-car out of a common mousetrap.

Other events test knowledge and skills in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, and physics.

Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and recognizing outstanding achievements in science education.

For more information on the Science Olympiad, visit the Science Olympiad Web site: Juniata College also has a Web site dedicated to the event at http://projects.juniata.edu/scioly/.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.