Hundreds of future scientists and engineers will showcase talents at Western Michigan

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—More than 700 middle and high school students will descend on Western Michigan University’s Main Campus on Saturday, March 16, for a regional Science Olympiad tournament. 

WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences hosts the annual Region 10 tournament that attracts students from more than 45 schools in the nine-county region and holds one of the largest tournaments in Michigan. Science Olympiad tournaments allow students to compete in their choices of 23 different events, encompassing a very broad variety of STEM-related topics.

"These tournaments allow students to explore careers and gain mastery and skills beyond their peers, helping them to be confidently ready for post grade-school opportunities," says Marty Buehler, Science Olympiad regional director at Western, a former Science Olympiad coach and high school science teacher for nearly 30 years.

This year's tournament events range from experimental design and astronomy to ecology, chemistry, forensics and much more.

The event is open to middle school and high school teams from Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. The tournament can be an effective enrichment of coursework found in area curricula but also has events that are beyond what a student experiences. Technology, engineering, problem-solving, special topics and teamwork all play into the large variety of STEM offerings found in Science Olympiad. 

"Science Olympiad offers students an opportunity to not only be inspired by the activities of this competition but also to be on a campus and learn what the college experience is like and how a college education can change their lives," says Dr. Steve Butt, dean of Western's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

More than 150 faculty, staff and students from across Western work to make the Science Olympiad tournament possible. Students from WMU’s registered student organizations (RSOs) developed and are running more than 50% of the events at this year’s tournament. 

"I really value seeing our WMU students on the job. Some are getting their first experience as leaders, practicing their communication skills as the expert in charge, and I think all of them are enjoying the interactions and seeing firsthand the impact they can have in the lives of others," says Buehler.

"Recently, I met with some of our engineering students that are running the event called 'Detector Building.' One of them remarked that he really wished his local high school had entered a team in Science Olympiad. It is such an advantage to have these experiences going into any college or university."

Students at this regional tournament will have an opportunity to qualify for the Science Olympiad state finals that also will be held at Western Michigan University on Saturday, May 4.

Learn more about the events.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.