View source for Science Olympiad

{{Short description|American school science competition}}
{{about|competition for schools in the United States|the international competitions |International Science Olympiad|the Indian competition|National Science Olympiad}}
{{Original research|date=March 2023}}
[[File:Science Olympiad Logo.svg|thumb|289x289px|Science Olympiad logo]]

'''Science Olympiad''', sometimes abbreviated as '''SciOly''', is an American team competition in which students compete in 23 events pertaining to various fields of science. The subjects include [[earth science]], [[biology]], [[chemistry]], [[physics]], and [[engineering]]. Over 7,800 [[middle school]] and [[high school]] teams from 50 U.S. states compete with each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/2017-09/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-11%20at%2012.24.14%20PM.png|title=2017 Science Olympiad Membership Map|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref><ref name="Science Olympiad History">{{Cite web|url=https://soinc.org/about/history|title=History &#124; Science Olympiad|website=soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/join/state-websites|title=State Websites {{!}} Science Olympiad|website=www.soinc.org|access-date=2017-01-01}}</ref> The U.S. territories do not compete. However, several international teams do compete in Science Olympiad tournaments in the U.S.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/International_Teams|title=International Teams - Wiki - Scioly.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>

There are multiple levels of the competition: invitational, regional, state, and national. Invitational tournaments, usually run by high schools and universities, are unofficial tournaments and serve as practice for regional and state competitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soinc.org/play/invitationals|title=Invitationals &#124; Science Olympiad|website=soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref> Teams that excel at regional competitions advance to the state level; the top one or two teams from each state (depending on the state) then advance the national level. Winners later receive several kinds of awards, including medals, trophies and plaques, as well as scholarships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wright.edu/event/science-olympiad-2017/scholarships|title=Scholarships {{!}} Science Olympiad 2017 {{!}} Wright State University|website=www.wright.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-03-28}}</ref> The program for elementary-age students is less common and less consistent. Schools have flexibility to implement the program to meet their needs. Some communities host competitive elementary tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competitive Tournaments {{!}} Science Olympiad |url=https://www.soinc.org/elementary/competitive-tournaments |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.soinc.org}}</ref>

==History==
The first recorded Science Olympiad was held on Saturday, November 23, 1974, at [[St. Andrews Presbyterian College]] in [[Laurinburg, North Carolina]]. Dr. Barnes and Dr. David Wetmore were the originators of this event. Fifteen schools from North and [[South Carolina]] participated in this event. It was a day-long affair, with competitions and demonstrations for high school students in the areas of biology, chemistry, and physics. There were four event periods during this day and each event period had one fun event (like beaker race or paper airplane), one demonstration (like glassblowing and holography), and one serious event (like periodic table quiz or Science Bowl). An article by David Wetmore was published in the [[Journal of Chemical Education]] in January 1978<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1021/ed055p43 | volume=55 | title=Student recruitment through a science olympiad | year=1978 | journal=Journal of Chemical Education | page=43 | last1 = Wetmore | first1 = David E.| issue=1 | bibcode=1978JChEd..55...43W }}</ref> documenting the success of recruiting students through Science Olympiad. St. Andrews Presbyterian College continues to host a Science Olympiad tournament to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sciencenc.com/tournament-information/laurinburg/laurinburg.php |title=Science Olympiad Tournament at St. Andrew's Presbyterian College |access-date=2010-09-16 |archive-date=2010-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028150128/http://www.sciencenc.com/tournament-information/laurinburg/laurinburg.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mr. John C. "Jack" Cairns was a teacher at [[Dover High School (Delaware)|Dover High School]] in Delaware when he learned about the [[North Carolina Science Olympiad|Science Olympiad tournament in North Carolina]]. He shared this information with Dr. Douglas R. Macbeth, the Delaware State Science Supervisor. Mr. Cairns was appointed to a steering committee to organize the first Science Olympiad in Delaware<ref>[http://www.olympiad.k12.de.us/ Delaware Science Olympiad]</ref> which took place at [[Delaware State University]] in the Spring of 1977. A write-up in ''[[The Science Teacher]]'' of December 1977 caught the attention of Gerard Putz, who proposed that the program be expanded throughout the United States. After competition tests in [[Michigan]] at the [[Lawrence Institute of Technology]] and [[Oakland University]] in 1983 and 1984, Putz and Delaware director John Cairns took their plan for a national competition to the [[National Science Teachers Association|National Science Teachers Conference]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]]. The first National Tournament was attended by representatives of 17 states, held at [[Michigan State University]] in 1985. Since then, the program has expanded greatly, with 60 teams present in each division at the National Tournament.<ref name="Science Olympiad History"/>

== International Teams ==
Since 2012, a Global Ambassador Team from [[Japan]] has been invited to attend the national tournament as part of a partnership between Science Olympiad, [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology|MEXT]] and [[Japan Science and Technology Agency|JST]]. Each year, the Grand Prize for winning the [[Japan High School Science Championships]] (JHSSC), a competition styled after the U.S.-based Science Olympiad is a trip to the U.S. to participate in the Science Olympiad National Tournament. The Japanese Global Ambassador Team does however only compete on a limited basis as unranked guests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japanese International Team - Science Olympiad Student Center Wiki |url=https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Japanese_International_Team |access-date=2018-03-28 |website=scioly.org |language=en}}</ref> Japan continues to send a team, as of the 2024 National Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Technology |first=University Outreach and Engagement-Communication and Information |title=Global Ambassador Team from Japan |url=https://nationalscienceolympiad2024.org/teams/global-ambassador-team-from-japan |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Global Ambassador Team from Japan |language=en-US}}</ref> The Japanese Global Ambassador Teams are the best known international teams that participate in Science Olympiad however other countries do occasionally participate in tournaments.

Canada has multiple active Science Olympiad teams and participated in the nationals tournaments in the U.S. between 1995 and 1998 but has not sent a team since although Canadian teams do still occasionally participate in tournaments in the U.S.<ref name=":0" />

Peru also sends teams to the U.S. to compete in Science Olympiad tournaments but Peru has never attended a national tournament.<ref name=":0" /> Peru's participation is for the most part coordinated by [[United Technologies for Kids]] (UTK) a [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] focused on [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] education in Latin America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our mission |url=https://www.utkademy.com/about-us |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=United Technologies For Kids |language=es-PE}}</ref>

==Divisions==
There are three divisions in the hierarchy of Science Olympiad:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/divisions_abc|title = Team Size & Grade Levels &#124; Science Olympiad}}</ref>
* Division A for elementary school (grades K–6)
* Division B for middle school (grades 6–9)
* Division C for high school (grades 9–12)

The national tournament and generally state and regional tournaments are only for divisions B and C. Division A teams usually have separate interscholastic tournaments, apart from the more common intra-school competitions. Note that 6th and 9th graders have the option of competing in either of the two divisions in which they meet the grade requirements and are part of the competing school. (6th graders can compete in divisions A and B while 9th graders can compete in divisions B and C.) A middle school may, however, only use up to 5 members who have graduated to the next school if they are in 9th grade or lower. Students in grades lower than the division in which the school competes in may also be on the team. Teams are restricted to five 9th graders for division B and seven 12th graders for division C. Students may not participate on multiple teams, e.g. a 9th grader on both a high school and middle school team would not be allowed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soinc.org/start-team/team-size-grade-levels|title=Team Size & Grade Levels &#124; Science Olympiad|website=soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>

== Events and event history==
In Divisions A, B and C, teams may compete in up to twenty-three main events, which usually occur over a single day (some tournaments, such as the Texas State tournament, run competitive events over multiple days); done by a team of no more than 15 members. Events fall into five main categories: Life, Personal, and Social Science, Earth & Space Science, Physical Science & Chemistry, Technology & Engineering, Inquiry & Nature of Science. They are either knowledge-based (for example, written tests on [[earth science]], [[physics]], [[astronomy]], or [[biology]]), hands-on (for example, [[chemistry]] lab practicals or events involving both device testing and an exam), or engineering-based (participants construct a device before the competition to do specified tasks on the day of the competition).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soinc.org/short_event_descriptions|title=Event Descriptions|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>

Knowledge-based events generally have two to three participants taking a test and/or mathematically analyzing data. Examples of such events are Anatomy and Physiology, Meteorology, Codebusters, and Green Generation.

Hands-on events generally consist of two participants performing experiments or interacting with physical objects to achieve a certain goal. Some examples are Experimental Design and Write it Do it.

Engineering-based events have a team of two participants. They are to construct a device following a specific event's parameters and test the device against others. Examples include Bridge, Flight, and Roller Coaster.

The majority of events allow two team members, though a few allow more. If one member is unable to attend an event, the other is able to continue, depending on the event. If the team has one available, a backup team member may be placed with the member as opposed to their former partner.

The list of events and rules for each change and are updated every year to input dynamism and to limit the advantages of more experienced teams. Events of each type often rotate, with each event staying in competition rotation for at least two years. For example, the Division C vehicle event cycle is two years each of Electric Vehicle, Mousetrap Vehicle, Gravity Vehicle, and Scrambler respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Past_Event_Rotations|title=Past Event Rotations - Wiki - Scioly.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>

States have substantial leeway in how they run their organization; several states, notably [[North Carolina]]<ref>http://www.sciencenc.com/events.php#b North Carolina-specific events Division B</ref><ref>http://www.sciencenc.com/events.php#c North Carolina-specific events Division C</ref> and [[Texas]], run altered slates of events; in the case of Texas, teams can choose to replace National events with state-exclusive events.
=== 2023–2024 events ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
! colspan="2" |Event name
|-
! Division B events
! Division C events
|-
| Air Trajectory
| Air Trajectory
|-
| Anatomy and Physiology
| Anatomy and Physiology
|-
| Can't Judge a Powder
| Astronomy
|-
| Codebusters
| Chem Lab
|-
| Crime Busters
| Codebusters
|-
| Disease Detectives
| Detector Building
|-
| Dynamic Planet
| Disease Detectives
|-
| Ecology
| Dynamic Planet
|-
| Experimental Design
| Ecology
|-
| Fast Facts
| Fermi Questions
|-
| Forestry
| Flight
|-
| Fossils
| Forensics
|-Potions and Poisons
| Meteorology
| Forestry
|-
| Microbe Mission
| Fossils
|-
| Optics
| Geologic Mapping
|-
| Reach for the Stars
| Microbe Mission
|-
| Road Scholar
| Optics
|-
| Roller Coaster
| Robot Tour
|-
| Tower
| Scrambler
|-
| Wheeled Vehicle
| Tower
|-
| Wind Power
| Wind Power
|-
| Write it Do it
| Write it Do it
|}
{{Clear}}

=== 2017–2018 events ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan="2"|Event name
|-
! Division B events
! Division C events
|-
| Anatomy and Physiology
| Anatomy and Physiology
|-
| Battery Buggy
| Astronomy
|-
| Crime Busters
| Chem Lab
|-
| Disease Detectives
| Disease Detectives
|-
| Ecology
| Ecology
|-
| Experimental Design
| Experimental Design
|-
| Fast Facts
| 
|-
| Game On
| Forensics
|-
| Meteorology
| Hovercraft
|-
| Microbe Mission
| Materials Science
|-
| Mission Possible
| Microbe Mission
|-
| Mousetrap Vehicle
| Optics
|-
| Mystery Architecture
| Remote Sensing
|-
| Optics
| Rocks and Minerals
|-
| Potions and Poisons
| Thermodynamics
|-
| Road Scholar
| Towers
|-
| Rocks and Minerals
| Wright Stuff
|-
| Roller Coaster
| Write It Do It
|-
| Solar System
| {{n/a}}
|-
| Thermodynamics
| {{n/a}}
|- 
| Towers
| {{n/a}}
|-
| Write It Do It
| {{n/a}}
|}
{{Clear}}

=== 2015–2016 events ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan="2"|Event name
|-
! Division B events
! Division C events
|-
| Air Trajectory
| Air Trajectory
|-
| Anatomy and Physiology
| Anatomy and Physiology
|-
| Bio-Process Lab
| Astronomy
|-
| Bottle Rocket
| Bridge Building
|-
| Can't Judge a Powder
| Cell Biology
|-
| Crave the Wave
| Chem Lab
|-
| Crime Busters
| Disease Detectives
|-
| Disease Detectives
| Dynamic Planet
|-
| Dynamic Planet
| Electric Vehicle
|-
| Elastic Launched Gliders
| Experimental Design
|-
| Experimental Design
| Forensics
|-
| Food Science
| Fossils
|-
| Fossils
| GeoLogic Mapping
|-
| Game On
| Green Generation
|-
| Green Generation
| Hydrogeology
|-
| Invasive Species
| Invasive Species
|-
| Meteorology
| It's About Time
|-
| Mission Possible
| Protein Modeling
|-
| Picture This
| Robot Arm
|-
| Reach for the Stars
| Wind Power
|-
| Road Scholar
| Write It Do It
|-
| Scrambler
| {{n/a}}
|-
| Solar System
| {{n/a}}
|- 
| Wind Power
| {{n/a}}
|-
| Write It Do It
| {{n/a}}
|}
{{Clear}}

==Trial and pilot events==
Trial/Pilot events are, at Regional and State tournaments, events that are specific to that state that are being considered as events for the next year. At Regionals and States, these events may count towards the team's score. At Nationals, however, there is a completely different set of Trial/Pilot events, sometimes known as "alternate events" because the people entering them do not have to be on the official team. These do not count towards the team's score, but ribbons and medals are usually awarded.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trial Events {{!}} Science Olympiad |url=https://soinc.org/learn/trial-events |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=soinc.org}}</ref>

===Distinction between trial and pilot events===
The terms "trial event" and "pilot event" (also called "exploratory event") are sometimes interchangeable, both pertaining to an event that is not an official, national event for the year. However, at the National Tournament, there are often two differences. First, in 2010, it was announced that medals would only be awarded to the top 3 in the Trial events, but not at all in the Pilot events. Also, the Trial event are often much closer to becoming official events for following years than pilot events. Almost all of the Trial events from recent National tournaments have become official events within a few years of the tournament, while the same is not true for almost any of the pilot events.

==Team structure==
Teams are hosted by the [[school]] from which the participants attend. A team can consist of up to 15 [[students]] and any number of alternates; some states allow more students per team. At the [[middle school]] level at nationals, only five ninth graders are allowed to compete on one team; at the [[high school]] level, only seven twelfth graders are allowed per team. However, state organizations occasionally amend these rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencenc.com/policy-information/team_size.php |title = Science NC - Science Blog| date=27 October 2021 }}</ref> [[Homeschooling|Homeschool]] groups may also form as many [[team]]s as they need to compete, provided each team consists only of students residing in, at most, two contiguous counties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/team-qualification-and-home-school-policy|title=Team Qualification and Home School Policy &#124; Science Olympiad|website=www.soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>

Although teams may have an unlimited number of alternates, it is implicitly stated within the rules that competitors present at the event must have completed all of the work on their event. This is specifically aimed at building events. It is illegal for teams to have their alternates as "builders" and their formal team members as "thinkers". Judges at the event are allowed to ask any question of the machine or contraption in an effort to keep the scenario above from occurring. Nonetheless, competitors, coaches, and entire teams are expected to have integrity and to abide by this rule.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/building_tools_policy|title = Building and Tools Policy &#124; Science Olympiad}}</ref>

==Scoring==

The [[Wikt:winner|winner]] of the competition is determined by each team's overall [[Score (gaming)|score]]. Each [[school]] is ranked in every event based on that event's rules. For each type of event, the ranking differs. Knowledge events are scored by the correct number of answers; the team with the highest score will receive 1st place, the second highest will receive 2nd place, and so on. If two teams are tied, there are usually tiebreaker questions that apply only to those teams that are tied. The non-testing events are scored based on the individual requirements listed in the Science Olympiad rule book, released each year to reflect new events, requirements, and clarifications. Some events, such as the knowledge/testing-based will rank teams by using the highest scores. However others may use the lowest score. The team's overall score is then calculated by adding together the rank of the school in all events (e.g. 1st place receives 1 point, 2nd place 2 points, etc.). The [[team]] with the lowest overall score is declared the winner. However, some state competitions choose to score the competition by awarding more points per place (e.g. 13 points for 1st place, 12 points for 2nd place, etc.) and having the team with the most points being declared the winner.

There are several ways to break a [[tie (draw)]]:

* One method for tie-breaking is based on [[medals]] where the team with more first place medals wins. If both teams have the same amount of first places, it moves to second place medals and so on. This is the method that the National Tournament uses.
* Before a competition, the event organizer decides on several events to be used as [[Tiebreaker|tie-breakers]]. If two teams get the same score overall, the team that rates highest in that one event will take the lead.
* A third way of tie-breaking is to use a team's score in trial/pilot events. The team with the best combined score in trial events would win the competition when this method is used.
* In some competitions, there also may questions added into event, labeled as tie-breakers. If needed, these questions can be used as tie breakers, although this type of tie-breaker is generally for only the event and not the overall rank.

==Competition levels==

Science Olympiad competitions occur at the [[regional]], [[U.S. state|state]] and [[nation]]al level. Normally, the top few teams advance from the regional level to state competition, the exact number depending on how many regions there are and how many teams compete. For example, in [[Ohio]], the number of teams qualifying for the state tournament from each regional depends solely on the number of teams participating at that regional,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ohso.osu.edu/regional-tournaments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114152314/http://ohso.osu.edu/regional-tournaments |archive-date=2014-11-14 |title=Regional Tournaments {{!}} ohso}}</ref> whereas in [[New York (state)|New York]] the allocation system involved determining whether or not the winning team in a regional tournament had won the previous year (this method has since been discontinued). In most states, the top team advances from the state to the national competition. Some states with a larger number of teams are allotted a second spot at the national competition to represent their larger participation. Currently, 120 teams compete at the national level each year (60 from Division B and 60 from Division C); the number has changed over the years to accommodate growing participation.

Many states also hold invitational tournaments. These competitions serve as "practice rounds" for qualifying tournaments, and are hosted by individual middle schools, high schools and/or colleges.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ohso.osu.edu/invitational-tournaments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114152259/http://ohso.osu.edu/invitational-tournaments |archive-date=2014-11-14 |title=Invitational Tournaments {{!}} ohso}}</ref> Invitationals occur most commonly in January or February,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/invitationals|title = Invitationals &#124; Science Olympiad}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scioly.org/wiki/Invitational |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-11-17 |archive-date=2025-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706213919/https://scioly.org/wiki/Invitational |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/join/state-websites|title=State Websites &#124; Science Olympiad|website=www.soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref> although there have been some as early as October<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/rmsstscio/home|title = Rockdale Magnet Science Olympiad Invitational}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2Fa%2Fcfisd.net%2Fsites%2Fsystem%2Ferrors%2FWebspaceNotFound%3Fpath%3D%2Fcypress-falls-science-olympiad-invitational%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2Fa%2Fcfisd.net%2Fsites%2Fsystem%2Ferrors%2FWebspaceNotFound%3Fpath%3D%2Fcypress-falls-science-olympiad-invitational%2F&ifkv=AcMMx-cNuNs_MfYWs853TR_eRP2a_a_SU-u1VIqQOpEUb-kRuB0DG6ZsJiRblfAsu9fp6wY4EkcRVQ&osid=1&passive=1209600&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&dsh=S2080441966%3A1732245164272271&ddm=1|title=Sign in - Google Accounts|website=accounts.google.com|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref> or as late as April.<ref name="atxscioly.com">{{cite web |url=http://atxscioly.com/competition.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221030545/http://atxscioly.com/competition.html |archive-date=2016-02-21 |title=LSOAA}}</ref> Teams can participate in invitationals from multiple states depending on availability. At some invitationals, only a few events are held. However, many invitational tournaments mimic regional and state competitions in their competitive intensity. For example, MIT hosts an invitational tournament each year with around 70 teams from over a dozen states, including 20 or more past national qualifiers.<ref name="scioly.mit.edu">{{cite web |url=http://scioly.mit.edu/ |title = MIT Science Olympiad}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scioly.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=218&t=7617#p283276 |title = MIT Invitational 2016 - Forums - Scioly.org}}</ref> Other tournaments, especially in the Midwest, are well known for their quality and competitiveness. In this way, teams can gain extra practice before competing in regional, state, or national tournaments. In 2014, [[Yale University]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yuso.yale.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615111735/http://yuso.yale.edu/ |archive-date=2013-06-15 |title=Welcome {{!}} Science Olympiad at Yale University}}</ref> became one of the first institutions of higher education to host a tournament run by Science Olympiad alumni, with several more following over the next few years.<ref name="scioly.mit.edu"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://goldengateso.com/ |title = Golden Gate Science Olympiad Invitational - UC Berkeley and Stanford University}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cornellscioly.com/ |title = Science Olympiad at Cornell}}</ref><ref name="atxscioly.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ricesoaa.weebly.com/ |title = Home}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennscienceolympiad.org/ |title = Science Olympiad at Penn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.princeton.edu/~scioly/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117212003/http://www.princeton.edu/~scioly/ |archive-date=2016-11-17 |title=Science Olympiad at Princeton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.umichscioly.org/ |title = University of Michigan Science Olympiad}}</ref>

==National tournament==

The National Science Olympiad competition is held in late May at a different university every year. Teams compete at the state competition with the top one or two schools in Division B and Division C each earning a spot at the national competition. Some states are given a second slot, based on the membership within the division. The total number of invited teams in each division is equal to 60 and the national tournament hosts 120 teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Number of Teams per State - Wiki |url=https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Number_of_Teams_per_State |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=Scioly.org |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, at the [[University of Central Florida]], a team from Japan was invited as a Global Ambassador Team. Although they competed in several events, their scores were not tallied against the state teams.

The competition officially begins with opening ceremonies on Friday night that usually include a notable speaker, such as a [[Nobel Laureate]]. A traditional Swap Meet follows the opening ceremonies which is an opportunity for teams to meet and greet. They bring state memorabilia to trade with other teams. The most popular items include hats, license plates, T-shirts, and key chains.

Saturday includes several time blocks. Each block includes a 60-minute section for each study event, plus a 15-minute break time for competitors to get from one event to another.

That night, a formal Awards Ceremony is held. It opens with a short speech followed by awarding medals for the top six teams in each event. Points for all the events are added together to determine an overall national team winner. The trial events are not included in this tally. The top ten teams in each division are recognized with trophies and plaques.

In some national tournaments, scholarships are awarded to the top teams in each event. For the 2005 and 2010 competitions, held at the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], first-place event winners received full four-year tuition waivers to the university. At the 2006 National Tournament, host [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University]] awarded $7,000 annual scholarships to those who finished first place in Division C and who attend the university in their freshman year. [[The George Washington University]] offered Division C gold medalists at its 2008 National Tournament a $20,000 stipend for those who were accepted and attended GWU. In 2012, the [[University of Central Florida]] offered $30,000 scholarships to the university for first place medalists in Division C. Additional awards may also provided by sponsors and industry leaders for specific events. For example, the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] provided first place medalists in Disease Detectives (Divisions B & C) with a trip for the two competitors and their coach to tour its facility in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].

==National locations and champions==
This is a list of past national champions and locations.<ref name="Science Olympiad History"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soinc.org/national-tournament-winners|title=National Tournament Winners &#124; Science Olympiad|website=soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="2"|
!colspan="2"|Division B
!colspan="2"|Division C
|-
!Year
!Location
!School
!State
!School
!State
|-
|1985
|{{flagicon|Michigan}} [[Michigan State University]]
|Slauson Intermediate School
|MI
|[[Seaholm High School]]
|MI
|-
|1986
|{{flagicon|Michigan}} [[Michigan State University]]
|Slauson Intermediate School
|MI
|Seaholm High School
|MI
|-
|1987
|{{flagicon|Ohio}} [[Ohio State University]]
|Gompers Secondary School
|CA
|[[Irmo High School]]
|SC
|-
|1988
|{{flagicon|Delaware}} [[Delaware State University]]
|[[Irmo Middle School]]
|SC
|[[Haverford High School]]
|PA
|-
|1989
|{{flagicon|Colorado}} [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado, Boulder]]
|Irmo Middle School
|SC
|Irmo High School
|SC
|-
|1990
|{{flagicon|Pennsylvania}} [[Penn West Clarion]]
|Irmo Middle School
|SC
|Irmo High School
|SC
|-
|1991
|{{flagicon|Missouri}} [[Penn Valley Community College]]
|Grandville Junior High School
|MI
|[[La Jolla High School]]
|CA
|-
|1992
|{{flagicon|Alabama}} [[Auburn University]]
|Jenison Junior High School
|MI
|La Jolla High School
|CA
|-
|1993
|{{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Colorado State University-Pueblo|University of Southern Colorado]]
|Thomas Jefferson Middle School
|IN
|Grand Haven High School
|MI
|-
|1994
|{{flagicon|Arizona}} [[University of Arizona]]
|State College Junior High School
|PA
|Grand Haven High School
|MI
|-
|1995
|{{flagicon|Indiana}} [[Indiana University]]
|State College Junior High School
|PA
|[[Harriton High School]]
|PA
|-
|1996
|{{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} [[Georgia Tech|Georgia Institute of Technology]]
|Thomas Jefferson Middle School
|IN
|[[Troy High School (California)|Troy High School]]
|CA
|-
|1997
|{{flagicon|North Carolina}} [[North Carolina State University]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|Grand Haven High School
|MI
|-
|1998
|{{flagicon|Michigan}} [[Grand Valley State University]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|[[Solon High School]]
|OH
|-
|1999
|{{flagicon|Illinois}} [[Chicago Museums]] and [[University of Chicago]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2000
|{{flagicon|Washington}} [[Eastern Washington University]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2001
|{{flagicon|Colorado}} [[University of Colorado Colorado Springs|University of Colorado, Colorado Springs]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|Harriton High School
|PA
|-
|2002
|{{flagicon|Delaware}} [[University of Delaware]]
|[[Rising Starr Middle School]]
|GA
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2003
|{{flagicon|Ohio}} [[Ohio State University]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2004
|{{flagicon|Pennsylvania}} [[Juniata College]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|[[Fayetteville-Manlius High School]]
|NY
|-
|2005
|{{flagicon|Illinois}} [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]
|[[Community Middle School]] 
|NJ
|Harriton High School
|PA
|-
|2006
|{{flagicon|Indiana}} [[Indiana University, Bloomington]]
|J.C. Booth Middle School
|GA
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2007
|{{flagicon|Kansas}} [[Wichita State University]]
|[[Community Middle School]]
|NJ
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2008
|{{flagicon|District of Columbia}} [[The George Washington University]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2009
|{{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} [[Augusta State University]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|[[Centerville High School (Centerville, Ohio)|Centerville High School]]
|OH
|-
|2010
|{{flagicon|Illinois}} [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Centerville High School
|OH
|-
|2011
|{{flagicon|Wisconsin}} [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Solon High School
|OH
|-
|2012
|{{flagicon|Florida}} [[University of Central Florida]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soinc.org/play/tournaments|title=Tournaments &#124; Science Olympiad|website=soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Solon High School
|OH
|-
|2013
|{{flagicon|Ohio}} [[Wright State University]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Solon High School
|OH
|-
|2014
|{{flagicon|Florida}} [[University of Central Florida]]
|Beckendorff Junior High School
|TX
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2015
|{{flagicon|Nebraska}} [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2016
|{{flagicon|Wisconsin}} [[University of Wisconsin–Stout]]
|Daniel Wright Junior High School
|IL
|[[Mira Loma High School]]
|CA
|-
|2017
|{{flagicon|Ohio}} [[Wright State University]]
|Daniel Wright Junior High School
|IL
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2018
|{{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Colorado State University]]
|Solon Middle School
|OH
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2019
|{{flagicon|New York}} [[Cornell University]]
|Kennedy Middle School
|CA
|Troy High School
|CA
|-
|2020
|{{flagicon|North Carolina}} [[North Carolina State University]]
|style="text-align:center;" colspan=4|'''Tournament not contested due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]'''
|-
|2021
|{{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Arizona State University]]
|Kennedy Middle School
|CA
|[[William Mason High School (Mason, Ohio)|Mason High School]]
|OH
|-
|2022
|{{flagicon|California}} [[California Institute of Technology]]
|Sierra Vista Middle School
|CA
|Mason High School
|OH
|-
|2023
|{{flagicon|Kansas}} [[Wichita State University]]
|Kennedy Middle School
|CA
|[[Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois)|Adlai E. Stevenson High School]]
|IL
|-
|2024
|{{flagicon|Michigan}} [[Michigan State University]]
|Kennedy Middle School
|CA
|Monta Vista High School
|CA
|-
|2025
|{{flagicon|Nebraska}} [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]]
|Sierra Vista Middle School
|CA
|[[Seven Lakes High School]]
|TX
|-
|2026
|{{flagicon|California}} [[University of Southern California]]
|TBD
|TBD
|TBD
|TBD
|}

=== List of National Championships by School ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Division B
! Rank
! School 
! No. of Championships
! Years
|-
|rowspan=2|1
|J.C. Booth M.S. ([[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]])
|8
|1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006
|-
|Solon M.S. ([[Ohio|OH]])
|8
|2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
|-
| rowspan="1" |3
|Kennedy M.S. ([[California|CA]])
|4
|2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
|-
| rowspan="1" |4
|Irmo M.S. ([[South Carolina|SC]])
|3
|1988, 1989, 1990
|-
| rowspan="6" |5
|Slauson I.S. ([[Michigan|MI]])
|2
|1985, 1986
|-
|Thomas Jefferson M.S. ([[Indiana|IN]])
|2
|1993, 1996
|-
|State College J.H.S. ([[Pennsylvania|PA]])
|2
|1994, 1995
|-
|Community M.S. ([[New Jersey|NJ]])
|2
|2005, 2007
|-
|Daniel Wright J.H.S. ([[Illinois|IL]])
|2
|2016, 2017
|-
|Sierra Vista M.S. ([[California|CA]])
|2
|2022, 2025
|-
|rowspan=5|11
|Gompers S.S. ([[California|CA]])
|1
|1987
|-
|Grandville J.H.S. ([[Michigan|MI]])
|1
|1991
|-
|Jenison J.H.S. ([[Michigan|MI]])
|1
|1992
|-
|Rising Starr M.S. ([[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]])
|1
|2002
|-
|Beckendorff J.H.S. ([[Texas|TX]])
|1
|2014
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Division C
! Rank
! School 
! No. of Championships
! Years
|-
|1
|[[Troy High School (California)|Troy H.S.]] ([[California|CA]])
|13
|1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
|-
|2
|[[Solon High School|Solon H.S.]] ([[Ohio|OH]])
|4
|1998, 2011, 2012, 2013
|-
|rowspan=3|3
|[[Grand Haven High School|Grand Haven H.S.]] ([[Michigan|MI]])
|3
|1993, 1994, 1997
|-
|[[Harriton High School|Harriton H.S.]] ([[Pennsylvania|PA]])
|3
|1995, 2001, 2005
|-
|[[Irmo High School|Irmo H.S.]] ([[South Carolina|SC]])
|3
|1987, 1989, 1990
|-
|rowspan=4|6
|[[Seaholm High School|Seaholm H.S.]] ([[Michigan|MI]])
|2
|1985, 1986
|-
|[[La Jolla High School|La Jolla H.S.]] ([[California|CA]])
|2
|1991, 1992
|-
|[[Centerville High School (Ohio)|Centerville H.S.]] ([[Ohio|OH]])
|2
|2009, 2010
|-
|[[William Mason High School (Mason, Ohio)|Mason H.S.]] ([[Ohio|OH]])
|2
|2021, 2022
|-
|rowspan=6|10
|[[Haverford High School|Haverford H.S.]] ([[Pennsylvania|PA]])
|1
|1988
|-
|[[Fayetteville–Manlius High School|Fayetteville-Manilus H.S.]] ([[New York (state)|NY]])
|1
|2004
|-
|[[Mira Loma High School|Mira Loma H.S.]] ([[California|CA]])
|1
|2016
|-
|[[Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois)|Adlai E. Stevenson High School]] ([[Illinois|IL]])
|1
|2023
|-
|[[Monta Vista High School]] ([[California|CA]])
|1
|2024
|-
|[[Seven Lakes High School]] ([[Texas|TX]])
|1
|2025
|}

=== List of States by Number of National Tournaments Hosted ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Rank
! State
! No. of Tournaments Hosted
|-
| rowspan="2" |1
|{{flag|Ohio}}
|4
|-
|{{flag|Colorado}}
|4
|-
| rowspan="2" |3
|{{flag|Michigan}}
|3
|-
|{{flag|Illinois}}
|3
|-
|rowspan=9|5
|{{flag|Delaware}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Pennsylvania}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Indiana}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Wisconsin}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Florida}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Arizona}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Kansas}}
|2
|-
|{{flag|Nebraska}}
|2
|-
|rowspan=6|14
|{{flag|Missouri}}
|1
|-
|{{flag|Alabama}}
|1
|-
|{{flag|North Carolina}}
|1
|-
|{{flag|Washington}}
|1
|-
|{{flag|District of Columbia|name=Washington, DC}}
|1
|-
|{{flag|California}}
|1
|}

Eight universities have hosted the National Tournament twice: [[Michigan State University]], [[Ohio State University]], the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], [[Indiana University Bloomington]], the [[University of Central Florida]], [[Wichita State University]], [[Wright State University]], and the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]].

==Division A==
Division A generally covers elementary school students (through 6th grade). Schools which wish to start a Science Olympiad program at their school can take advantage of the resources offered on the National Science Olympiad website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/elementary|title = Elementary &#124; Science Olympiad}}</ref> There is no National membership fee required to participate in Elementary Division activities.<ref name="soinc.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/elementary/competitive-tournaments|title=Competitive Tournaments &#124; Science Olympiad|website=www.soinc.org|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref> An appropriate program will depend upon the objectives and resources of the local school or community. Programs can range from a Fun Night<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soinc.org/fun_day_night|title = Fun Day and Fun Night &#124; Science Olympiad}}</ref> to a large competitive tournament.<ref name="soinc.org"/> Some Elementary programs have existed as long as the National program, and have developed additional resources that schools may find helpful.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://macombso.org/index.php/esoresources|title=Resources|accessdate=2024-11-22}}</ref>

== Study Resources ==
Many study resources, including yearly rules manuals, can be found at the [https://www.soinc.org/ Science Olympiad website]. [https://scioly.org Scioly.org] is a separate forum site which hosts additional resources, including a [[wiki]]. 

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.soinc.org Official Science Olympiad National Home Page]
* [http://www.scioly.org Science Olympiad Student Center]
* {{Cite web|url=https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page|title=Science Olympiad Student Center Wiki|website=scioly.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-06}}
* Macomb Science Olympiad / Southeast Michigan Region 7 Division B&C, Macomb and St. Clair counties Division A, Website [http://MacombSO.org Home]
* [http://www.biolympiads.com Biology Olympiad Student Center]
* [https://www.studyspiel.com/createTest Codebusters Test Creator]

[[Category:Science competitions]]
[[Category:Youth science]]
[[Category:Science events in the United States]]
[[Category:Education competitions in the United States]]
[[Category:Student events]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1974]]