NYS Science Olympiad at Canisius on Feb. 4

BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University will host the regional New York StateScience Olympiad on Saturday, February 4, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.Nearly 500 high school students representing 32 teams from four counties will participate in the team science competition, which includes events in genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, mechanical engineering and technology. They will be judged by volunteers from the local community, including educators, doctors, engineers, and research PhD candidates from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Approximately 60 students and faculty from Canisius University will serve as hosts and greeters for the event. 

The Science Olympiad team competitions take place at venues across campus but several of the most visual events are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., on the second floor of the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center, which is located on Hughes Avenue. These visual competitions include “Magnetic Levitation,” “Towers,” “Robot Arm,” “Helicopter” and “Gravity Vehicle.” All Science Olympiad events are aligned with current National Science Standards set by the National Research Council. 

Following the team competitions, Canisius University faculty members from different science disciplines will give presentations and demonstrations. These demonstrations will take place from 3:00- 5:30 p.m. in the college’sMontante Cultural Center, located at the corner of Main Street and Eastwood Place. Debra T. Burhans, PhD, will showcase robots used in the college’s computer science program; Susan W. Margulus, PhD, will present work that students do in the animal behavior, ecology and conservation program; andJamie O’Neil and Przemyslaw J. Moskal, PhD, from the Digital Media Arts program will demonstrate a video game creations designed by Canisius University students. 

More than 300 medals and six team trophies will be awarded at the regional competition, during the awards ceremony, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in theMontante Cultural Center. Four winning teams will advance to the New York State finals, which will also be held at Canisius University on March 30- 31. The top two teams from the state competition advance to the national Science Olympiad, to be held at the University of Central Florida in May. 

The Science Olympiad competition tests the problem-solving nature of students in the disciplines of science, technology and design, and music. It is dedicated to improving the quality of k-12 science education by increasing male, female and minority interest in science; creating a technologically literate workforce; and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. The Science Olympiad began as a grassroots assembly of science teachers across the nation and has grown to become one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based events for students. 

For more information on the regional Science Olympiad, contact the Office of Public Relations at 888-2790. 

Canisius University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.