The Department of Chemistry at IU Northwest recently received a grant in the amount of $3,000 from Indiana Campus Compact (ICC), a granting agency whose focus is on service learning. The grant is the maximum amount allowed by the ICC and was used for the expenses incurred in sponsoring one of seven 2002 Science Olympiad regionals on the Gary campus.

Teams of up to 15 students from local middle and high schools converged at IUN on Feb. 16 to participate in more than 35 carefully planned and coordinated science and engineering events. The top three middle and high school teams then were invited to participate at the state tournament, which was held at the Bloomington campus March 25.

Tournaments are designed to emphasize problem solving aspects of science and the understanding of science concepts, develop teamwork and cooperative learning strategies among students, and to demonstrate that American students can perform at levels that surpass expectations of even practicing scientists and engineers.

Science Olympiad supports elementary and secondary Science Olympiad tournaments at building, district, county, state and national levels with an emphasis on teamwork and a commitment to excellence. Its mission is to improve the quality of K-12 science education throughout the nation, to change the way science is perceived and the way it is taught.

Science Olympiad supports IUN’s “Shared Vision” by promoting partnerships among community, business, industry, government and education.