“Events Through the Ages” (History of SciOly Events)
This rubber-powered flight event first appeared in 2000 and remains a fan favorite.
What is Wright Stuff?
In the Bridge/Tower events, is it better for your structure to be lighter or heavier to maximize your efficiency score?
What is lighter?
The very first National Science Olympiad Tournament was held in this U.S. state in 1985.
What is Michigan?
In any building event, if your device fails safety check, are you allowed to test it anyway for a lower tier?
What is yes, but it’s Tier 4?
This event encourages hands-on scientific learning for grades K–6 and serves as a feeder into higher divisions.
What is Elementary Science Olympiad (ESO)?
This popular Division C event combines chemistry and crime-solving, asking students to analyze powders, fibers, and other evidence.
What is Forensics?
These thin wooden strips, available at craft stores, are a favorite material for bridge and tower builders.
What is balsa wood?
Winning teams at Nationals receive these iconic items, which have become symbols of SciOly pride.
What are gold medals?
If you accidentally open your test packet before the signal, what is the minimum penalty you’ll face?
What is disqualification or Tier 3 placement (accept either)?
These are allowed and required materials in many Division C events—stuffed with notes, built by students, and securely clipped inside.
What are binders?
Name the year when the National Science Olympiad was first founded.
What is 1984?
What is the term that describes a penalty applied to a team for violating construction parameters or other rules, which results in the team being ranked lower in event standings?
What is tiering?
In 2025, this university hosted the National Science Olympiad Tournament.
What is the University of Lincoln-Nebraska?
In experimental design, failing to label your axes on a graph can cost you up to how many points?
What is typically 1-2 points (varies by rubric)?
This public health agency co-sponsors Science Olympiad and helps run the “Disease Detectives” event in Division C.
What is the CDC?
Because the 2020 National Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, Science Olympiad replayed the 2020 rules in 2021. Name one Division C building event from the 2020 slate that teams could reuse.
What is Boomilever, Gravity Vehicle, Wright Stuff, Detector Building?
This “event type” description refers to events where teams prepare a physical device or model before competition, as opposed to tests or labs.
What is a Build Event?
True or False: Nationals always rotates between the same five host universities every year.
What is False?
During a chemistry lab event, using a banned reagent without permission can result in what consequence?
What is disqualification?
The first Senior High Science Olympiad tournament was held in this state in 1977, where the winning school received both medals and a traveling trophy.
What is Delaware?
This legacy Division C event that partners with MSOE’s Center for Biomolecular Modeling returned as a trial event in 2024–25 and often shows up at Nationals.
What is Protein Modeling?
Name one engineering event in which rubber bands are still commonly used as a source of stored energy.
What is Wright Stuff, Scrambler, or Elastic Launched Glider?
Name this Texas high school that recently won its first national title in 2025.
What is Seven Lakes High School?
Finals twist! In Physics Lab, your device has a battery limit of 9V. Your teammate accidentally uses a 12V battery. What happens?
What is automatic Tier 4 or disqualification?
In the 2025 Science Olympiad season, there are 23 official events in Division C, but only this many events are classified as “build events.”
What is 5?