UW-Milwaukee: Wisconsin Science Olympiad will take over UWM Friday and Saturday

MILWAUKEE — As many as 1,000 high school science students from around the state will be at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, for the Wisconsin Science Olympiad.

The statewide event begins on campus at 9 a.m., Friday, with students arriving at various times during the day. That evening, the opening ceremonies are at 6:45 p.m followed by dinner and a performance by Unclear on the Concept, a band including two UWM science professors (Jon Kahl, atmospheric science, and Xavier Siemens, physics). Saturday’s competitions will be from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with an awards ceremony at 4 p.m.

For locations and times of the events, visit uwm.edu/wso. On Friday and Saturday, event information will be available in the Union Concourse at the Team Check-In, and after 8:30 a.m. on Saturday in W143 of the UWM Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.

Teams of young student scientists, who have advanced from regional events, will compete in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) events on both days.

Events from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, will include bungee drops, bridge building and other science activities.

Lee Marek, a University of Illinois-Chicago chemist known for his light-hearted demonstrations of scientific principles on “The Late Show With David Letterman,” will have a presentation at 3:30 p.m., Friday, in room 190 of the UWM Chemistry Building, 3210 N. Cramer,.

CONTACT: UWM’s Kristen Murphy, kmurphy@uwm.edu. (Cell: 414-339-6546).

About UWM

As Wisconsin’s only public urban research university, UWM has established an international reputation for excellence in research, community engagement, teaching and entrepreneurism. UWM educates more than 28,000 students on an operating budget of $546 million, an amount that does not include federal financial aid passed through to students. The Princeton Review named UWM a “2015 Best in the Midwest” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews. An engine for innovation in southeastern Wisconsin, UWM’s economic impact is more than $1.5 billion per year in Wisconsin alone.