Competitors dressed for a Lab Event

Science Olympiad participation provides a memorable way for your students to connect with both older students and professionals in science and engineering careers.

You’ve made the choice to join Oregon Science Olympiad for this season. Congratulations! There are a few steps to take to ensure that your students can compete at the State Tournament and receive the event preparation they deserve.

While joining the Oregon Science Olympiad program, please do the following:

If you have any questions about the process, please refer to the monthly newsletters and/or contact State Director Ashley da Silva at ashley.dasilva@lebanon.k12.or.us


Once you’ve joined, a good next step is to explore the Science Olympiad events for the year. The members of your team should explore these events and their rules, which can be found in the Science Olympiad Store. Most events may be competed in by a single member of your team or a partnership; each team member may participate in multiple events with different partners (or the same one).

Science Olympiad events are varied and challenging. They reach out to multiple intelligences among students, and many areas of science and engineering. In general, events come in three types:

  • Build Events call upon students to construct something. They must then bring what they have engineered to the competition and demonstrate it. Anyone on the team can help with construction!
  • Lab Events ask students to apply science procedures at the competition. These might be in chemistry, biology, physics, or earth science. Students might prepare a notebook and/or gather tools.
  • Knowledge Events ask students to use extensive science knowledge and reasoning skills on a paper-and-pencil test. Specimens for students to examine might be included. Competitors are usually allowed notes, so these events are a chance to hone research skills.