Awesome Aquifers for Science Olympiad

WATER SCIENCE FOR SCHOOLS

Awesome Aquifers for Science Olympiad
by Sharon Lien, The Groundwater Foundation

Students throughout the country learn about groundwater by building model aquifers as part of The Groundwater Foundation's new Science Olympiad event "Awesome Aquifers." Science Olympiad is an international program that encourages middle and high school students to learn an area of science and then compete as individuals and teams at local, state and national tournaments. During the last school year, approximately two million students at 14,000 schools from all 50 states and Canada participated in Science Olympiad. Events cover all science disciplines, and include both paper tests and events that require students to build models or demonstrate their abilities to use scientific tools. Science Olympiad, which is typically a school club, also offers students opportunities to meet and work with working scientists, who often serve as program mentors or event judges.

Because an event on groundwater didn't exist in the Science Olympiad program, The Groundwater Foundation created Awesome Aquifers. This event is designed to increase students' understanding of groundwater concepts by providing hands-on, experience-based groundwater education to students that participate in Science Olympiad tournaments. Prior to the tournament, students conduct groundwater research, then design and build a groundwater flow model, according to standardized Science Olympiad rules.

During competition, students use their models to demonstrate an understanding of the hydrologic cycle, the physical makeup of an aquifer and changes to the groundwater system. Students can earn bonus points for demonstrating possible contamination remediation techniques, such as using an intervening well to intercept a contaminant plume, chemical or physical treatment, or pump and aeration treatment. While students are required to demonstrate certain concepts, there are almost no restrictions on how they build their models, so the event encourages student creativity. During the 2003-2004 school year Awesome Aquifers was a trial event at the Missouri and Nebraska State Science Olympiad Tournaments, and at the National Science Olympiad Tournament. Students that have participated in these events overwhelmingly indicated on the evaluation forms that they learned about the importance of groundwater, the complexity of an aquifer, and that it is an important water source. In fact, more than 85 percent of the students indicated that the event influenced them to conserve or protect groundwater.

The Groundwater Foundation will be calling on groundwater enthusiasts throughout the country to support the Awesome Aquifers movement. There will be a need for people to help promote the event to Science Olympiad teams in each state and assist at local and state tournaments as event supervisors and judges. For more information on how you can be involved with Awesome Aquifers for Science Olympiad, please call The Groundwater Foundation at 1-800-858-1844, email Sharon@groundwater.org or visit our website at www.groundwater.org. Sharon Lien is the Education Development Director of The Groundwater Foundation.