January 14, 2008      

MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Sherrard
(202) 994-1423; mcs1@gwu.edu

GW TO HOST SCIENCE OLYMPIAD INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
JAN. 26, 2008

WASHINGTON - The George Washington University will host an Invitational Science Olympiad Tournament Saturday, Jan. 26, on its Foggy Bottom Campus.  The one-day tournament prepares emerging Science Olympiad teams for their regional and state tournaments.  More than 800 middle and high school students and educators representing the states across the nation are expected to participate.  GW and DuPont also will host the 2008 Science Olympiad National Tournament on May 30 - 31, 2008, which is expected to draw more than 5,000 students and educators to the university's Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses. 

The Jan. 26 invitational will begin at 8 a.m. with an opening ceremony in Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW.  Dr. Sujata K. Bhatia, the only physician-scientist with DuPont's central research and development organization, will deliver the keynote address.  Competitions in 50 events will take place on GW's Foggy Bottom Campus from 9:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  The competitions will include a series of team events, for which students prepare during the year.  These challenging and motivational events, which are aligned with the National Science Standards, are balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, and technology and require knowledge of science concepts, process skills, and science applications. 

"A sound science education is important, and the nation's continued good fortune depends on the practical application of science as we use our broad knowledge and skills to solve difficult problems," said Kathy Melvin, Science Olympiad tournament director.  "We will be looking to these students in the future to continue to add to our nation's legacy as a worldwide technology leader."

The Science Olympiad is an international, non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers.  These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops, and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state, and national tournaments.

Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital.  The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs.  Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries.

For more information on Science Olympiad at GW, visit http://scienceolympiad.gwu.edu.
For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org. 

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