In Pocatello on April 13, students from four different schools gathered for the Eastern Idaho Science Olympiad. Instead of focusing on physical strength and endurance, this STEM competition showcased the skills and knowledge of young scientists and engineers. Hosted by Idaho State University’s Department of Physics, the event featured a variety of events covering topics such as forensics, epidemiology, and experimental design. The top three participants in each event received medals.
According to Steve Shropshire, a professor of physics at Idaho State University, the Science Olympiad provides an excellent opportunity for young scientists and engineers to apply their knowledge in a fun and challenging setting. In addition to individual medals, team scores were tallied to determine an overall winner. Pocatello Community Charter School took home the top team prize, followed closely by Hawthorne Middle School and Grace Lutheran Middle School.
The success of the Eastern Idaho Science Olympiad was made possible by volunteers from various departments at Idaho State University and organizations such as the Pocatello Kiwanis Club and Idaho National Laboratory. These volunteers helped make the event a success by sharing their passion for STEM fields with participating students.
Congratulations were extended to all competitors and coaches for their hard work, as many of the events were closely contested. For more information about the Olympiad or how you can get involved in future events like this one, contact Steve Shropshire or visit ISU’s Department of Physics website.
