KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — More than 400 middle and high school students from the region traveled to Western Michigan University for this year’s regional Science Olympiad on Saturday.
Director Scot Conant, who is with WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, said it was an exciting day of hands on competition.
“Science Olympiad is a program with a mission to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists,” Conant said.
Their mission was to compete in a number of different science-based and practical competitions, like creating rubber band-powered aircraft with a goal of staying aloft for the longest possible time.
They compete with their own designs, with model racing cars that must transport an egg safely, rockets, robots and Rube Goldberg-like machines.
Schools from Kalamazoo, Barry, Branch, Calhoun and Allegan counties sent their best teams. The winners crowned this weekend will move on to state events to compete for slots in national competitions.
The students walk away with skill sets and knowledge that could not be obtained any other way and have real life application, and it’s done in a fun and exciting way that keeps the teens engaged and striving to innovate, experiment and excel.
Regional events were held throughout the state Saturday.
