Bottle rockets blasted into the air. Raw eggs fell from the sky. And, 5000 people filled Eastern's campus at the National Science Olympiad on May 19 and 20, 2000.

This was the scene in Cheney as more than 2,100 middle school and high school teams (6th to 12th grade) participated in this national event held for the first time in the Pacific Northwest and only the second time ever west of the Rocky Mountains.

"To have had the national finals at our university is an honor and something to be proud of, especially considering that some of the previous venues have included Boston, Chicago and Ann Arbor," states Jean Cavanaugh, tournament co-director.

The Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that the regional economic impact from Science Olympiad will be more than $680,000.

Each team, from various schools around the country, consisted of 15 students with almost all 50 states being represented. The teams which participated at the national competition had to win at the regional and state competitions in order to qualify for the national event here in Cheney.

Spectators and news media from all over the U.S. viewed many of the events including Cow-A-Bungee, an event where students constructed an elastic harness, attached an object to it and dropped it from a height. Another popular event was the Wright Stuff. Spectators watched students design and build a propeller-propelled aerodynamic device and then compete for the greatest time aloft.

Special guest and astronaut, Bonnie Dunbar, originally from Sunnyside, Wash. was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony on Friday night. NASA also provided displays and hosted workshops throughout the weekend.

Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education and increasing student interest in science. It was formed in 1985 to give students in grades 6 though 12 the chance to have fun with science in a competitive arena. The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous, but fun competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events which students prepare for during the school year. Events center around various science disciplines including biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology.

And, you don't have to be a science genius to participate, or win, for that matter. A strong interest in science and a knack for creativity can really give students an edge at the competition.

The Future of Science Education– It Isn't Rocket Science

As you read this article, scientific advancements are taking place all over the world. In today's technology and information age, what used to take years to create often only takes months. From cell phones to the Internet, staying in touch has never been so easy. Advanced health care permits us to choose the physical and personality characteristics of our babies. It also tells us what diseases we're genetically disposed to by means of a few tests. And, just about when you think you've heard it all, science allows us to clone our favorite pets so they're around forever.

With science and technology becoming so prevalent in each of our everyday lives, why aren't our children as excited as we are? According to Christian Science Monitor (Mar. 23, 1999), middle school students are losing interest in science-related subjects. High school students are shying away from senior level science courses with only half of today's students completing four years of science. These conclusions are from a 1998 Third International Math and Science study (TIMSS). The study also states that while U.S. 4th graders ranked at the top, 12th graders came in at a dismal 19th out of 21 countries– ahead only of Cyprus and South Africa.

These statistics are frustrating for companies who are hoping to recruit students after college graduation. Executives from some of the country's top high-tech businesses say the quality of future work forces and their ability to keep pace globally depends on whether or not these alarming findings can drastically be turned around.

Remember when we were kids? Science class often consisted of dreadful lectures and homework assignments, such as memorizing the Table of Elements. Today, educators hope to inspire students by trying new approaches in the classroom that emphasize interactive, hands-on activities.

Heather McKean, co-director of the recently held National Science Olympiad at Eastern (see page 16) and EWU Biology Department senior associate faculty says, "To prepare upcoming students, our ways of teaching science are rapidly changing. Gone are the days of memorized factoids. Today, we are providing K-12 students with science activities that are hands-on and inquiry based."

National educational organizations, universities and independent research groups agree with McKean. The science classroom must incorporate hands-on activities into its curriculum. Events like the National Science Olympiad tournament have become very popular due to their hands-on nature.

McKean says, "Kids work in a team in Science Olympiad competitions. They problem solve by taking part in events such as building a bridge that suspends the greatest amount of weight. Or, they create a vehicle that includes an accurate brake system that stops just before hitting a wall. These are the types of hands-on experiences kids need to develop an interest in science."

Eastern is tackling this issue head-on. In addition to hosting this year's National Science Olympiad, Eastern helped Spokane area District 81 schools revise their science curriculum by incorporating more hands-on activities into their classrooms.

Eastern's College of Science, Mathematics and Technology also offers an Eastern Washington Summer Research Institute with funding from the GTE Foundation. The Institute helps economically disadvantaged students overcome the financial barriers of a college education. It provides freshman and sophomore level college scholarships to students who complete the Institute and major in the math and science fields. Students work one-on-one with Eastern faculty on active research projects over the course of two, four-week summer sessions between their junior and senior years.

Rosemary Gregory, development director for Eastern's College of Science, Mathematics and Technology states, "Hands-on learning experiences, such as what we offer in our Summer Research Institute, strengthens students interests in the math and sciences and introduces them to possible careers within these disciplines."

With many new science, math and technology teaching methods that incorporate a hands-on approach, there's a strong chance that our children's interest in the science fields will increase. The challenge for today's educators is to inspire. Hands-on activities don't have to be complicated; they just need to spark a child's interest. If educators can accomplish this task, they're halfway there.