IU Northwest to host 2020 Science Olympiad Regional Tournament on Feb. 15

Gary, Ind. – Twenty-six teams of middle and high school students from 21 schools in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, and surrounding communities, will demonstrate their science and engineering talents at the 2020 Science Olympiad Regional Tournament on Saturday, February 15 at Indiana University Northwest.

The event, hosted for the 19th straight year by IU Northwest, offers the community an opportunity to see a Science Olympiad in action. Young scientists from across the region will gather to flex their academic muscle in dozens of carefully planned science and engineering events, such as designing robots, building vehicles, performing chemistry experiments, and more.

Competing middle schools from the area include: Chesterton, Griffith, Grimmer, Kahler, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Our Lady of Grace, Robert Taft, Scott, St. Patrick, and Thomas Jefferson.

Competing high schools from the area include: Chesterton, Crown Point, East Noble, Griffith, Highland, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Marian, Merrillville, and St. Joseph.

Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium, located in the Savannah Center. The competition begins at 9 a.m. in the Savannah Gymnasium and other campus locations, with closing ceremonies at 4 p.m. and trophy presentations at 4:30 p.m. Results will be announced at the end of the awards ceremony.

Winners will advance to the state competition March 21 at Purdue University in West Lafayette. From there, the top teams will advance to the national tournament May 15-16 at North Carolina State University.

As a national non-profit organization launched in 1982, Science Olympiad is dedicated to improving K-12 science education. Science Olympiad represents an ideal opportunity for middle and high school students to meet and interact with scientists, academicians, college students, local engineers, and community members in a competitive yet enjoyable setting. Tournaments are designed to emphasize problem-solving aspects of science and the understanding of scientific concepts; develop teamwork and cooperative learning strategies among students; and demonstrate that American students can perform at levels that surpass expectations of even practicing scientists and engineers.

The public is invited to attend the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament. The Savannah Center is located on the southeast corner of the main campus parking lot at 33rd Avenue and Broadway in Gary.

For more information about the IU Northwest Science Olympiad Regional Tournament, contact Nelson DeLeon at 219-980-7203, or email him at ndeleon@iun.edu. Or, visit iun.edu/science-olympiad.com.

About Indiana University Northwest

One of eight campuses of Indiana University, IU Northwest is located in metropolitan Northwest Indiana, approximately 30 miles southeast of Chicago and 10 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. The campus has a diverse student population of approximately 4,000 degree-seeking students and 1,500 dual-credit students. The campus offers Associate, Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees in a variety of undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degree options available from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, the School of the Arts and the School of Education. The campus is also host to IU School of Medicine-Northwest-Gary, which actively involves students in research and local healthcare needs through its four-year medical doctorate program. IU Northwest emphasizes high-quality teaching, faculty and student research and engagement on campus and in the community. As a student-centered campus, IU Northwest is committed to academic excellence characterized by a love of ideas and achievement in learning, discovery, creativity and engagement. Indiana University Northwest is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to achieving excellence through diversity. The University actively encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups.