Millersville Set to Host 17th Annual Science Olympiad

On Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., approximately 500 middle and high school students will gather at Millersville University’s Science Complex and Pucillo Gymnasium to compete in the 17th Annual Science Olympiad. The winners of this prestigious competition will have the opportunity to advance to the state tournament.

Science Olympiad competitions resemble academic track meets, featuring 23 team events in each division (Division B for middle school, Division C for high school). Every year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the dynamic fields of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. Science Olympiad fosters broad participation by combining events from various disciplines, emphasizing active, hands-on group involvement. This collaborative approach brings together students, teachers, parents, principals and business leaders, uniting them in pursuit of a common goal.

“Some of the events involve the construction of devices, like an electrochemical device to determine the concentration of salt in water or an autonomous robot that must navigate an obstacle course,” explains Dr. Daniel Albert, associate professor and chairperson of chemistry at the University.

The event at Millersville is a regional competition for Division B and Division C. There are 14 teams competing in Division B and 25 teams competing in Division C. The top 7 teams from Division B and the top 6 teams from Division C advance to the state tournament at Penn State Altoona on April 27.

“The event is only made possible through many volunteers,” says Albert. “Dr. Laura Ramos-Sepulveda, assistant professor in the biology department is the other main person at Millersville who makes this event possible. She coordinates more than 100 volunteers that consist of Millersville students, faculty and staff and community members including parents and coaches.”

People wanting to experience what Science Olympiad is all about can stop by Pucillo gym between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on March 23.