The First EU Science Olympiad (EUSO): a model for science education

Journal of Biological Education; Volume 39, Issue 2, March 2005, Pages 58 - 62

http://www.dcu.ie/biotechnology/abg/pdfs/rok/The_first_EU_Science_Olympiad.pdf

 Authors: Richard O'Kennedy, Maurice Burke, Paul van Kampen, Paraic James, Michael A. Cotter, Wesley R. Browne, Ciarán O'Fagain and Enda McGlynn

Dublin City University, Ireland

 Abstract

In April 2003 the first European Science Olympiad took place in Dublin City University in Ireland. In this competition second level students were asked to carry out a number of tasks involving biology, physics and chemistry. Students had qualified initially in competitions in one of these subjects and were organised into integrated teams which worked together to complete the tasks. This paper examines the background to the competition, describes aspects of the biological input in developing the tasks and discusses the value of the approach and its potential benefits in improving both interest levels in science and the quality of science education.

A New Science Competition for Secondary School Students: the First European Union Science Olympiad

European Journal of Physics Volume 25 Number 1

Paul van Kampen et al 2004 Eur. J. Phys. 25 23 doi: 10.1088/0143-0807/25/1/004

Authors: Paul van Kampen, Wesley R Browne, Maurice Burke, Michael A Cotter, Paraic James, Enda McGlynn, Richard O’Kennedy, Philip Smyth and Gillian Whelan.

 Abstract

The first European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO2003) took place at Dublin City University in April 2003. In this paper we discuss the philosophy behind and implementation of this new competition and the role third-level institutions can play in making science more attractive to second-level students via competitions of this nature. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary nature of the experiments, the team-working skills required and the potential for stimulating the uptake of science at second and third levels. We use an experimental problem on photosynthesis, which has a strong physics component, to illustrate our ideas and methodology and assess the overall success of the first EUSO competition.