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: 4/5/05   SOUTHEASTERN HOSTS LOUISIANA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD APRIL 16        HAMMOND -- Students from 30 Louisiana middle, junior high and high schools will gather at Southeastern Louisiana University April 16 for some seriously scientific fun and games.        The students are finalists in the state Science Olympiad, which Southeastern is hosting for the fourth year. Teams were chosen for the state championship after finishing in the top five at regional competitions.         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 scientist,” Munchausen said. “The Science Olympiad is a proven success in increasing student scores and student interest in science B 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:        BATON ROUGE: Baton Rouge Magnet High School        BREAUX BRIDGE:  Breaux Bridge High School, St. Bernard School        DELHI:  Delhi Middle School        GRETNA: Archbishop Blenk High School        LAFAYETTE: Lafayette High School, Cathedral-Carmel School, Our Lady of Fatima School, Paul Breaux Middle School        MANDEVILLE:  Mandeville High School        MERAUX: N.P. Trist Middle School        METAIRIE: Ridgewood Preparatory School        NATCHITOCHES: Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts        NEW IBERIA: New Iberia Senior High School, St. Thomas More High School, Belle Place Middle School        NEW ORLEANS: St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Louise S. McGehee Middle School, Benjamin Franklin Senior High, Mount Carmel Academy         ST. AMANT:  St. Amant High School        SHREVEPORT: Caddo Parish Magnet High School, C.E. Byrd High School, Northwood High School, Fair Park High School, St. Mark’s Cathedral School, Turner Middle School.        SIBLEY:  Lakeside Junior High        WINNSBORO:  Franklin Academy        For additional information about the Louisiana Science Olympiad, call Munchausen at 985-549-3935 or lmunchausen@selu.edu.