Elementary, Middle, High School Students Invade CSUN to compete in the Science Olympiad


Hundreds of elementary, middle and high school students will give a new meaning to the word “Olympian” as they participate in the Los Angeles County Science Olympiad to be held at Cal State Northridge on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Nearly 30 CSUN professors representing various departments within the colleges of Science and Mathematics and Engineering and Computer Science will test the mental prowess of more than 2,000 students from across Los Angeles County.

“National security and the nation’s health and welfare are dependent upon producing top scientists and the production of top scientists has to begin as early as possible, even in elementary schools,” said CSUN biology professor Steven Oppenheimer, one of the coordinators of the event. “The Science Olympiad is one important mechanism to begin to stimulate scientific curiosity in young students, therefore, this event plays an important role in the development of the new generations of American scientists.”

The competition begins at 8:30 a.m. and will continue throughout the day in CSUN’s science buildings and other locations on campus along Lindley Avenue. Among the 45 planned competitions is “Designer Genes,” where students solve problems using their knowledge of genetics.

Some students will participate in “Science Crime Busters.” Taking a page from a television series, Crime Scene Investigation, teams will identify liquids, solids and other materials in a crime scenario. The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers.
For more information, call Kavoos Blourtchi at (818) 677-2006 or e-mail him at kavoos.blourtchi@csun.edu.

Media Contacts: Yvette Gonzalez or Carmen Ramos Chandler
(818) 677-2130, yvette.gonzalez@csun.edu