Orono, Maine - The Maine Science Olympiad was successfully held on April 12, 2025, in Orono, Maine, providing a platform for over 250 students from across the state to compete in demonstrating their scientific knowledge and creative construction skills.
Giovanna Guidoboni, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of Maine, described the Olympiad as "an annual event where students can interact and compete with each other through tasks in various fields such as physics, materials science, water resource exploration, and chemistry."
This week's Olympiad, which serves as a qualifier for the national competition to be held next month in Nebraska, was a single-day event, but participating teams stated they had undergone months of thorough preparation.
Jennifer Trobridge, a research scientist at Jackson Laboratory and a long-time coach for her son's school, Conners Emerson School in Bar Harbor, said, "We have been meeting twice a week since the beginning of the semester to prepare." She added, "In some cases, it involves in-depth exploration of specific scientific fields or topics like entomology or physiology, and in others, it includes engineering activities such as building towers or helicopters."
Tula Roberts-Fishman and Mariam Hassan from Waynflete School in Portland, who were participating in the Olympiad for the first time, took part in the helicopter building event. Regarding the construction process, Hassan said, "We followed the step-by-step instructions, but it took about three weeks to complete."
Despite most participants following the same guidelines and explanations, Roberts-Fishman emphasized that there are ways to make their work stand out. "I think keeping the body of the helicopter as straight as possible is the most important thing. We struggled with that part," she shared.
Harlan, a junior at Falmouth High School who participated in the Robot Tour event, said he based his creation on his experience in the school's robotics club. He explained that while he is used to working with robots much larger than those required for the Olympiad, the construction process is similar. "I had to research, plan, and build, and when it didn't work as expected, I had to go back and iterate," he added.
The Maine Science Olympiad is a competition with no participation fee, and the effort students put into the activities is a prime example of how young talents can produce remarkable results when given the proper resources and support. For Roberts-Fishman, this Olympiad provided a new opportunity to explore science. She said, "I think high school is a place to explore different opportunities, and there aren't many free, science-based extracurricular activities. So, this Olympiad is a really great opportunity."
Trobridge commented, "As a scientist, it's wonderful to see the next generation of kids developing a passion for science at a young age. This is an important indicator of their future success in the scientific field and is very rewarding and wonderful for our society as a whole."
Although there were winners in the construction events held on Saturday, Dean Guidoboni emphasized that all participants gain much more. "Winning is not the goal. The goal is to contribute and constantly improve oneself," he said.
In the high school division of this year's competition, Falmouth High School took first place, and in the middle school division, Conners Emerson School secured first place. Both schools have qualified to represent Maine at the National Science Olympiad Tournament in Nebraska this May.
What is the Science Olympiad?
The Science Olympiad is a prestigious academic competition where students work in teams to test their theoretical and practical skills in various scientific fields. It comprises diverse events covering physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and engineering, contributing to the enhancement of students' scientific thinking, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. In the United States, teams qualify for the national competition through state-level preliminary rounds. The Science Olympiad plays a crucial role in discovering and fostering future talents in science and technology, providing participating students with a sense of academic achievement and opportunities for career exploration.
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