Budding young scientists from throughout the region are gearing up to participate in the 41st Annual Stanislaus County Regional Science Olympiad on Saturday, March 14 at Modesto Junior College (West Campus Science Center). The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will end at 3:30 p.m.

More than 500 students representing area middle and high school students will participate in the day-long event. The public is invited to attend. Admission and parking are free.

This year’s Science Olympiad, sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Modesto Junior College, will have participants from the following junior high/middle schools: Blaker-Kinser, Cardozo, Hickman Charter, La Loma, Oakdale Charter, Oakdale, Our Lady of Fatima, Prescott, Roosevelt, Sacred Heart, and Ustach. Participating high schools include Beyer, Central Catholic, Davis, Don Pedro, Downey, Enochs, Gregori, Johansen, Merced, Modesto, Modesto Christian, Oakdale, Oakdale Charter, Pitman, Riverbank and Turlock. More than 125 science educators and community volunteers will judge or assist with the competition.

The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, Martin Petersen Event Center.

The Regional Science Olympiad consists of individual and team events that encourage learning in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem-solving, and technology. Some events require students to build devices before the competition, some require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, and others focus on science processes, skills, or applications.

This year’s state NorCal Science Olympiad is scheduled for April 4 at California State University, East Bay, in Hayward.