On Saturday, February 21, Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) will host a Science Olympiad Division C regional tournament for 180 students from eight metro Atlanta high schools. Twelve teams, of 15 students each, will compete in 23 STEM events covering seven categories, with the winners advancing to the March 21 state competition at Emory University.

A year ago, the Science Olympiad’s state organizers asked CEISMC if Georgia Tech would host one of the regional tournaments.

“When they approached us, we said, ‘We should be doing this,’” said Gustavia Evans, a CEISMC program director and co-director of the tournament. “The Science Olympiad aligns with some of the activities we do already at CEISMC — the KIDS Club, summer programs, mentoring — so it’s not that different.”

The natural alignment between the Science Olympiad and Georgia Tech lends itself to an opportunity to showcase what Tech has to offer the student participants.

“These are the kinds of students we want to come to Tech,” said Jean Anderson, a CEISMC program director and co-director of the tournament. “These are the students who really enjoy and excel at the things we have at Tech.”

While on campus, the Science Olympiad participants will hear presentations from Georgia Tech’s Office of Undergraduate Admission and two student ambassadors. Additionally, several student organizations will set up information booths for the high school visitors. The student visitors will also interact with Tech students who competed in the Science Olympiad when they were in high school and are serving in this competition as event supervisors and volunteers.

“Tech students have been very instrumental in recruiting their fellow students as volunteers for the event,” said David Barnes, a CEISMC education outreach manager and tournament logistics and technology director. “At our initial meeting, we had about 15 students, and they spread the word and helped secure more than half of our volunteers.”

Now that much of the logistics planning for this year’s event is behind them, the CEISMC staff is looking forward to hosting again next year.

“This is our learning year, and we’re going to do a great job hosting,” said Evans. “But next year, it will be easier because we have the volunteers and experience.”