David E. Wetmore St. Andrews Presbyterian College
Laurinburg. North Carolina
The recruitment of science-oriented students is a problem in many small colleges. As a partial solution to this problem, St. Andrews Presbyterian College has held an annual Science Olympiad for the last two years. Last year the event attracted over 400 science students and their teachers from over 20 different high schools in our geographic region. A numher of these students have enrolled at St. Andrews, and the event has provided excellent publicity for our Science Division. This article describes our Olvm~iad. The Olympiad is a day-iong affair, with competitions and demonstrations for most levels of interest in the areas of hiology, chemistry, and physics. There are four event periods dnrine the dav. " . and in each event period there is one fun event (full beaker race, paper airplanecontest) or demonstration (glasshlowing, holography) and one serious event (periodic table quiz, Science Bowl). At the end of the day there is a ceremony a t which awards are presented. We have used the following events, all of which have worked successfully. 1) Titration race. Each participant has three tries at titrating a
standard salution (phenolphthalein indicator). Speed and accuracy count. 2) Scavenger Hunt. This is an outdoor event, in which contestants are sent out to find ohjects identified an their search lists in ecological terms. 3) Periodic Table Quiz. An oral quiz in which the answersare all the names of one ofthe elements. 4) Counter Race. Eaeh contestant determines the number of bacteria in a colony. Speed and accuracy count. 5) Beaker Race. Each amtestant negotiates an obstacle course with a plastic heaker full of water. Time and the amount of water snilled determine the winner. 6 ) Name that Organ. Various dissected organisms are displayed, with numhers on various organs. The object of the contest is to name as many of the organs as possible in 15 min. 7 ) Frog Jump. Eaeh contestant jumps a frog. The total length of the frog's first three hops is measured. There is a 1-min time limit. 8) Verbal Logic. Various logic pnrhlems are read aloud, and repeated m r e . 9) Chamber of Hornm. The apparatus necessary for a numher of standard physics experiments is grouped together hy experiment, hut with no indication of how it is to he used. The contestants must figure out what is to be done and then do it. 10) Science Bowl. Patterned after College Bowl, this event has eliminations,semi-fmals,and finals. I I ) Model Airplane Race. Eaeh contestant is given two sheets of 8 X 10 paper. Models are judged both for accuracy and distance. 12) Password. The old parlor game, using biological terms. ~~
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Demonstrations include a chemical magic show, glassblowing, lasers and holography, an EKG set-up with Harvard step test, a series of films on scientific subjects, and an interactive comouter terminal. The Olympiad is held on a Saturday in the fall, on a date which does not conflict with regional or state commitments such as the National Merit ~ x a &and does not fall during the
Student Recruitment through a Science Olympiad final few weeks of the foothal season. Brochures are sent to over 100 high schools. The brochures include a brief description of the events, a schedule, map of the campus, and preregistration form. We encourage pre-registration, as it allows us to forecast the numher of participants for each event and gives us a head start on preparing certificates of participation. We charge a registration fee to help cover the cost of certificates and to provide us with an accurate attendance count. The Olympiad is conducted through registration, puhlicity, certificate, liason, and logistics comm,ittees. The registration committee is responsible for a registration desk on the morning of the Olympiad where names tags are prepared, receipts given, and walk-ins registered. At the conclusion of the registration period the registration committee compiles a participant list (student, school, and teacher) which is then given to the publicity committee. The publicity committee is responsible for disseminating press releases concerning the Olympiad. We have found that most newspapers will use well-written press releases concerning people from their circulation area, especially if they are accompanied by photographs of those people. To aid the publicity committee, the pre-registration form requests the names of newspapers serving the registrant's area. On the day of the Olympiad we have two or often three photography teams working. Each team consists of a photographer and a scribe, who records the names and home towns of those persons recognizable in each photograph. A generalized news release is prepared, such that the names of individuals can he inserted. The releases, together with appropriate photographs are mailed late on the evening of the Olympiad. We also shoot several 100-ft rolls of 16mm film, and send them to television stations, along with a script. The certificate committee spends the day of the Olympiad typing in names of participants and winners. Participant certificates are given to the teacher in charge of the group, and awards are given out during the closing ceremonies. A liason committee is responsible for notifying the cafeteria and the admissions office of the number of people expected. They also arrange for student assistants for the faculty members. We have found that freshmen are very effective in this role, many being recent graduates of the high schools represented a t the Olympiad. The logistics committee coordinates the use of equipment and space fur the Olympiad. This committee is also responsihle for posting whatever signs are necessary. In our experience, it is almost impossible to have too many signs. A faculty member is placed in charge of each event. He is responsible for setting up the rules and scoring system for the event, providing a list of equipment needed to the logistics committee, The Science Olympiad has proven an extremely effective method of making the Science Division of St. Andrews wellknown to high schools and science teachers in our area. We have received a numher of enthusiastic comments from teachers and high school students. Also, a numher of students here a t St. Andrews were attracted to the school because of the Olympiad. Volume 55,Number 1. January 1978 / 43
