Abstract:

The National Science Olympiad is the United States’ largest K-12 science competition, reaching over 250,000 students at nearly 8,00 schools in all 50 states. Competitors participate in a variety of events designed to prepare students for STEM careers by exploring topics ranging from constructing maximally efficient bridges to implementing advanced machine learning algorithms to analyzing real astronomical data using JS9. Since 2004, the Astronomy event has been a staple of the National competition and supervised at hundreds of college campuses annually. This upcoming year, the event will probe an understanding of fundamental stellar evolution principles in the context of galaxy formation and evolution. Competitors will answer questions related to the concepts underlying modern theories of star and galaxy formation and evolution, such as the warm-hot intergalactic medium, Beta Cephei pulsation mechanisms, and the nuances of the Lambda-CDM model; apply quantitative relations to solve theoretical problems or draw insights from real astronomical data; and demonstrate a masterful awareness of recent research surrounding 16 deep space objects, including M87, 3C 273, and JKCS 041. In addition to welcoming feedback from the community, we invite any interested community member to assist in the development of educational resources or Astronomy event materials for students and coaches by contacting Donna Young (dlyoung.nso@gmail.com), Tad Komacek (tkomacek@uchicago.edu), or Asher Noel (ashernoel@college.harvard.edu). Additionally, we encourage community members to volunteer at one of Science Olympiad’s 450 annual tournaments by contacting tournament directors to inquire about supervising an event. Supervisors benefit the younger generation by cultivating a passion for either Astronomy or the broader universe of STEM.