News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 4/13/04   SOUTHEASTERN HOSTS "SERIOUSLY SCIENTIFIC FUN" AT LOUISIANA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD, APRIL 24       HAMMOND -- Students from 26 Louisiana middle, junior high and high schools will gather at Southeastern Louisiana University April 24 for some seriously scientific fun and games.       The students are finalists in the state Science Olympiad, which Southeastern is hosting for the third year. Teams were chosen for the state championship after finishing in the top five at district olympiads.        Students will compete in several dozen events that use the format of popular board games, television shows and athletic games to test their knowledge of science disciplines such as biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology.       In “Science Crime Busters,” teams will have to correctly identify liquids, solids and other materials at a make-believe crime scene. “Reach for the Stars” will test students knowledge of astronomy, while “Road Scholar” will require them to interpret and understand a variety of road and topographic maps.       Other contests will challenge teams to design and build working contraptions such as trick-performing robots, model bridges, and pop bottle rockets, and to construct devices that will safely cradle dropped or propelled eggs.       The Southeastern Olympiad is being coordinated by chemistry professor Linda Munchausen, who has recruited fellow faculty members to supervise the dozens of scientific contests.       “We’re looking forward to having a great time again this year with these bright, eager future scientists,” Munchausen said. “The Science Olympiad is a proven success in increasing student scores and student interest in science – and it’s great public relations for our profession of science education.”         The Science Olympiad’s opening ceremony is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. in the War Memorial Student Union mall. The day’s events will end with awards ceremonies at 4:30 p.m., in the Student Union Theatre for the high school division and in the Student Union ballroom for the middle school-junior high division.       Participating schools are:       ALEXANDRIA – Alexandria Country Day.       BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Magnet High School.       BOUTTE – Hahnville High School.       BREAUX BRIDGE – Saint Bernard School, Breaux Bridge High School.       CHALMETTE – Andrew Jackson High School.       FORT NECESSITY – Fort Necessity Junior High.       LAFAYETTE – Our Lady of Fatima School, Paul Breaux Middle School, Lafayette High School.       MANDEVILLE – Mandeville High School.       METAIRIE – Ridgewood Preparatory, Saint Martin’s Episcopal School.       NATCHITOCHES – Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.       NEW IBERIA – Belle Place Middle School, New Iberia Senior High School, Westgate High School.       NEW ORLEANS – Louise S. McGehee School, Saint George’s Episcopal School, Saint Paul’s Episcopal School, Benjamin Franklinton High School, Mount Carmel Academy.       SHREVEPORT – Saint Mark’s Cathedral School, Caddo Magnet School, Fair Park High School, Northwood High School.       For additional information about the Louisiana Science Olympiad, call Munchausen at 985-549-3935 or lmunchausen@selu.edu. Additional information is available online at www.selu.edu/msub.