MSO

Science Olympiad Students at the White House Science Fair with President Barack Obama

2012-02-07T03:58:00.000-08:00

Science Olympiad will be sending four students and two coaches from the 2011 Science Olympiad National Tournament teams to the White House Science Fair on Tuesday, February 7, 2012! This is our second invitation to the event. The teams will be exhibiting devices during the fair as well! Attached is our Media Alert, and you can see more info as it comes in at:
http://soinc.org/gov_news_2012

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/31/president-obama-host-white-house-science-fair

Watch live streaming video at the link below (no exact time given yet, but in the morning):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

NGC Helicopter Kits available!

2012-02-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

NGC Helicopter Kits provided by the Baltimore Area Soaring Society.

Science Olympiad Coaches!!!

When requesting kits please provide name, address and number of kits requested.

Check out this link for details. Inquiries can be made to:

John Appling - appling.john@yahoo.com
Randy Kleinert - rkleinert@verizon.net

http://www.soarmd.org/

http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/

DOE accepting Job Applications - next three weeks!

2012-01-31T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hey, Hey - Looking for a summer job or internship?

Check out Department of Engery's links below for some employment opportunities!

For Mathematics and Accounting Positions, Apply here: http://usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/307543300

For Physical Science and Engineering Positions, Apply here: http://usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/307544100

For Business and Administration Positions, Apply here: http://usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/307544600

For General Office Support, Office Automation and Accounting Technician Positions, Apply here:

http://usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/307544900

You can also find the announcement at www.jobs.energy.gov and click on the Internships link at the bottom; it will take you to the STEP section, where the links are to USAJobs.

Reminder the announcement is only visible on the Jobs portal at jobs.energy.gov. The announcements cannot be found on USAJOBS

Calling all volunteers!

2012-01-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 2012 season of Science Olympiad! We would like to invite you to participate as a volunteer in the following tournaments:

February 25,2012 - UMD College Park - Regionals

March 03, 2012 - Salisbury University - Regionals

March 31, 2012 - JHU Baltimore - State

Please let Al Causey (alcausey@gmail.com) if you can fit one or more of these into your 2012 schedule.

Thanks for serving your community and helping make our state STEM education the best!

COMPETITIONS IN THE FOLLOWING FIELDS

Life and Environmental Science	Earth/Space Science	Chemistry and Physics	Skills and Processes (Technology)	Skills and Processes (Inquiry)
		Middle School
Anatomy, Disease Detectives, Forestry, Microbe Mission, Water Quality	Dynamic Planet, Meteorology, Reach for the Stars, Road Scholar, Rocks and Minerals	Keep the Heat, Optics, Food Science, Crime Busters, Storm the Castle	Bottle Rocket, Mission Possible, Mousetrap Vehicle, Towers	Awesome Aquifer, Compute This, Experimental Design, Write It/Do It
		High School
Anatomy, Disease Detectives, Forestry, Microbe Mission, Water Quality	Astronomy, Dynamic Planet, Remote Sensing, Rocks and Minerals	Chemistry Lab, Forensics, Protein Modeling, Optics, Sounds of Music, Thermodynamics Lab	Gravity Vehicle, NG Helicopter, Robot Arm, Towers	Experimental Design, Fermi Questions, Technical Problem Solving, Write It/Do It

JOURNYS - Check it out!

2012-01-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

Check out this high school student run science journal - JOURNYS (Journal of Youths in Science). It has plenty of great science information. They also accept article submissions from high schoolers. Their website can be found at http://www.journys.org/.

What is a STEM school?

2012-01-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

S.T.E.M. is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and a STEM School focuses on these subjects to help our nation's youth gain the skills required to succeed in today's challenging world. This includes the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and drive advancements in science and technology.

Check out this article from US News: The World Is Changing: Will Education Change With It? - STEM Education

Teacher Training Program In Maryland Aims To Help Girls, Minorities Succeed In STEM Fields

2012-01-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Sun (1/10, Knezevich) reports, "A new teacher training program designed to help girls and minorities succeed in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is focusing on how small actions in the classroom can affect a student's achievement. The Educators' Equity STEM Academy began Monday for professors at the Community College of Baltimore County, and it eventually will be available to high school teachers and community college teachers elsewhere in the state." Claudia Morrell, chief operating officer for the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation, said that the "training program for teachers is based on research from professors at institutions including the Johns Hopkins University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Wisconsin."

The Baltimore Business Journal (1/10, Graham, Subscription Publication) reports, "The so-called Educators' Equity STEM Academy, which is funded by an $886,000 National Science Foundation grant, initially will consist of 15 CCBC science, technology, engineering and math instructors testing out new strategies and techniques for improving STEM students' training and careers prospects."

Elementary Education Online Resources

2011-12-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/12/13/educators-look-for-resources-new-programs-amid-stem-push.aspx

Here's an article discussing current elementary online science resources (article contributed by Lockheed Martin volunteer Glenn Speights - thanks Glenn!) MSO will begin offering VIRTUAL SCIENCE TOURNAMENTS online for elementary classrooms in 2012 - including AWARDS - yea!

Only 10% of Elementary Students Get Hands-On Science

2011-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-me-science-20111031,0,1113818.story

Our new MSO Elementary After-School Program (available in YOUR county January!) focuses upon this precise issue.

"Specialists" Headed to Maryland Classrooms

2011-11-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

This link discusses a new program - I'd sure like to get this group involved with MSO! Does anyone have contacts?

http://www.wbal.com/absolutenm/templates/story.aspx?articleid=82844&zoneid=21

The First THREE YEARS of Basics and Theory?

2011-11-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

Surely there's a more effective way - what do you think?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/education/edlife/why-science-majors-change-their-mind-its-just-so-darn-hard.html?hpw

2011-10-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Darpa Science Challenge - The Un-shredder!

http://www.shredderchallenge.com/

2011-10-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2011/09/27.aspx

DPAPA funds website to promote computer science.....see link. This reminds me that MSO is seeking to develop a computer science competition to be conducted at MSO tournaments. Individuals or organizations wishing to collaborate on the design and development please email: alcausey@gmail.com

NSO President Visits MSO

2011-10-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

Bob Coverdill, the new president of the National Science Olympiad (NSO) coalition, visited with MSO State Director, Al Causey last week.

NSO has merged with the University of Illinois to form an all-new leadership structure (after 25 years of leadership provided by the Putz family.) Bob and Al conducted a two hour planning session followed by a site visit to observe MSO's new Elementary After-School Program (which is drawing NATIONAL attention!)

Together with FCPS teacher Jason Johnson, who oversees the MSO Elementary After-School Program, the group visited Lincoln Elementary School in Frederick and joined in smiles, laughter, cheers, and "OH-NO's" as the group applied science concepts and tested student engineering designs of "Egg-Drop" recovery devices.

The MSO Elementary After-School Program is now being conducted as a contracted service for FCPS through the Frederick County Learning Center (FCLC) at Lincoln, Waverly, and Hillcrest Elementary schools in Frederick County. FCLC provides a wide variety of after-school activities including sports, academics, crafts, and more.

Frederick County to Fully Support MSO

2011-10-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

Exciting news in Frederick County: Word has it that Frederick County Public Schools will fully fund MSO for all Frederick County middle schools - including coach stipends, supplies, and registration (those who have already registered will be refunded!)

MSO Coaches Clinic at JHU

2011-10-13T17:32:00.001-07:00

The MSO Coaches Clinic has been scheduled for November 5th from 9am-3pm. Each coach can bring as many adults as desired and up to three student team members. The location will be Johns Hopkins University Krieger Hall. Sign up on the registration link on the left sidebar. Parking is easy, traffic is light, food is good - come on over!

Team Number Assignments

2011-10-13T17:31:00.001-07:00

MSO team number assignments have been posted. If your school is not displayed, please confirm your registration status.

Online Team Management Tool

2011-10-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

MSO will bring a new electronic team management tool online this season. After coaches have registered their teams for the season, they will receive access to an online tool that will allow students to be added to the team. This electronic tool will replace the paper "Final Team Registration Form" required before each tournament in previous years.

This online solution is developed and donated by Rayymedia, a Frederick, MD based technology organization.

THANKS Rayymedia!

Coach Stipends!

2011-10-13T17:27:00.001-07:00

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems provided MSO funding for 2012 coach stipends! These stipends will target MSO team coaches in Baltimore City, the Eastern Shore, and coaches at small schools (enrollment less than 500). Stipend amounts are on par with stipends provided to sports coaches. Numbers are limited and are awarded "first-come."