CSUEB to host Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad March 15
- January 10, 2014
More than 1,100 budding young scientists from throughout the Bay Area and much of Northern California are gearing up for the 10th Annual Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad slated for Saturday, March 15 on the Hayward Campus of California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m., with most sessions taking place in the North Science building on the east side of the campus. The young participants will be representing junior and senior high schools. The public is invited to attend, as admission and parking are free.
The Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad is sponsored by the Bay Area Science League and the California Science League.
“Cal State East Bay is excited to have the opportunity to host the Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad,” said Michael Leung, dean of CSUEB's College of Science. “This event will add to all the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs and outreach activities currently in place in the Bay Area. The University is a strong supporter of our nation’s effort to encourage students to enter STEM fields. The Science Olympiad program inspires and challenges students to become the future innovators of our Country.”
The Regional Science Olympiad consists of individual and team events that encourage learning in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem solving and technology. Some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, while others rely on science processes, skills, or application. Several events require students to build devices prior to the competition, such as Wheeled Vehicle and Helicopter. For Wheeled Vehicle, students design, build and test a vehicle that uses elastic material as the propulsion energy, and for Helicopters, students design, build and test a propelled aerodynamic device.
High schools and junior high/middle schools from the following areas are participating: Albany, Berkeley, Carmel, Castro Valley, Cupertino, Dublin, Fremont, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Mountain View, Orinda, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Portola Valley, San Jose, San Ramon, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and Union City.
The top four teams in each division advance to the Northern California (Nor Cal) Science Olympiad State Finals.
The March 15 event is being coordinated by Charlene Lebastchi of CSUEB's College of Science and Barbara Little, state director of the Northern California Science Olympiad. They will join more than 150 volunteers, including CSUEB faculty and students, who will judge or assist with the competition.
Further information about the Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad is available online at or by contacting Little at blittle@stancoe.org or (209) 238-1710.
The State Science Olympiad is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 at California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock.