STEM Quad Challenge:
March 9th, 2024

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Chico Science Fair News

The STEM Quad Challenge has been scheduled!
Every so often, we are given the gift of time!
This year’s first annual Science Olympiad has been scheduled for Saturday, March 9th, 2024 from 10 am-2:30 pm. 
Division A (elementary) registration is closed, but there is still room for Division B (Middle School)
Click on our tabs above to find information on our events, how to register your team, how to volunteer and more!
For any questions on this reschedule, please contact us at chico.science.fair@gmail.com

The Chico STEM Quad Challenge is coming to Chico in 2024!
In 2020 we partnered with the Gateway Science Museum to extend our resources for engaging our local science community. Over the last two years we experimented with science competition models that are hands-on and invite students to work together to solve STEM challenges. This year’s STEM Quad Challenge focuses on our favorite elements from several local and national science programs to provide Butte County students with an enticing taste of the rich range of opportunities to engage in scientific thought and practice.

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The 2024 local STEM Quad Challenge will take place on March 9th, 2024.
Click on the Science Olympiad tab above to learn more about:

• Event list for our local competition
• Event Descriptions and Guidelines for 2024

• How to create and register a team for our local event
• What preparation and pre-building are required prior to the event
• The Science Olympiad Program (regional, state, and national competitions)
• Related science events and resources
  

Please note, the STEM Quad Challenge is for team participation only. Individual students are encouraged to submit their interest and our team is happy to help find them a competing team!

Volunteer

To Volunteer for our event, please click on heading above titled "Volunteer" or click the button below to read about the tasks involved and to fill out our volunteer form!

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2021-2022 Science Olympiad Pilot
In April 2021, the Gateway Science Museum was proud to host our first micro Science Olympiad with four 5th grade classes from Chico Unified Schools! Students competed in 2 build events: a toothpick-gumdrop structure designed to hold the greatest load for its size, and a ping pong ball-parachute launched on a bottle rocket designed to stay aloft the longest.

This was followed by a Science Picnic family event open to the public at the Gateway Science Museum the next day. In addition to toothpick gumdrop structures and rocket launched parachutes, participants were engaged in paper-penny structural challenges, deciphering codes, Write It Do It, and microscope skills. Guest speakers gave talks on a fossil shark-cat, astronomy, eco-friendly packaging made from mushrooms and hemp, a proposed wildlife crossing, and dune buggies. AGES (the Chico State Geology Club) led the audience in a round of Science Jeopardy.

These past events were a great success and made us even more excited for our 2023 Science Olympiad! We can't wait for you to join us!

​Email
chico.science.fair@gmail.com

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Continuing a Tradition of Bringing Science to Our Community

The Chico Science Fair has been held annually since 1984. Approximately 1,000 K-12 students from public and private schools in the Chico area have participated each year, exhibiting approximately 500 projects.These projects have demonstrated excellence in a variety of disciplines in the social sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. More than 2,000 visitors would view projects during the two days the science fair was open to the public. 
Though our in-person fair was put on hold in 2021 due to COVID restrictions, the Chico Science Fair partnered with the Gateway Science Museum to bring science to students through online challenges and local nature photography on our Facebook pages. We also used that time to transition into our new Science Olympiad format to bring even more dynamic and cooperative elements to our events. We are excited to bring the Science Olympiad experience to Chico this February.
 
Hundreds of volunteers from business, academia, professional and student organizations, and the general public commit their time, efforts, and financial resources to ensure that this opportunity for science education continues. We couldn’t do it without you!

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