South Carolina Science Olympiad

About Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad is an international non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops, and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state, and national tournaments. Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, and technology. The Science Olympiad was created in 1983 by Dr. Gerard J. Putz and Jack Cairns to increase the interest in science and as an alternative to traditional science fairs and single-discipline tournaments. After successful trial Olympiads were held in their respective states of Michigan and Delaware, the Science Olympiad began to grow. Science Olympiad has members in all 50 states totaling more than 13,500 actively participating K-12 schools.

Save the Dates!

SEPTEMBER 1

Registration opens for the 2024–25 SCSO season

DECEMBER 1

Normal registration closes (last day to register without late fee)

DECEMBER 31

Late registration closes

JANUARY 30

Registration fee due

MARCH 1

2025 South Carolina Science Olympiad State Tournament

MAY 24

41st Science Olympiad National Tournament

About Our Hosts

Inspired by the motto, "While We Live, We Serve," Presbyterian College celebrates an enduring culture of academic rigor, honor, and service.

PC is a nationally-ranked liberal arts college that provides students of all faiths, identities, and backgrounds with a transformative education to equip them for impactful careers and empower them to serve as powerful forces for positive change. PC's distinctive approach uses innovative service as a tool of self-discovery, an amplifier of problem-solving skills, and a catalyst of curiosity epitomized by the newly-developed Center for Inquiry, Research, and Scholarship (CIRAS).

PC was founded in 1880 by the Rev. William Plumer Jacobs in the historic city of Clinton in the foothills of South Carolina. The college offers a wide variety of undergraduate majors and three graduate programs—occupational therapy (OTD), physician assistant (PA), and pharmacy (PharmD)—that firmly place the college as a hub for science in higher education. PC student-athletes—the Blue Hose—participate in nineteen sports at the NCAA Division I level.

For more information about Presbyterian College, go to www.presby.edu.

Neville Hall, on the campus of Presbyterian College

What’s New with SCSO

Draft schedule published for 2025 State Tournament

October 18, 2024 ⬢ The draft competition schedule for the 2025 South Carolina Science Olympiad State Tournament is now available! The schedule is based off of the national schedule for this year; the event conflicts are the same as those at nationals, though the events will not necessarily run in the same order. The tournament’s events will run in six hour-long blocks with exact times and room assignments to be determined. The schedule is subject to change, except for the event conflicts, which will remain unless changed by the national office. The full draft schedule is available on the “State Tournament” page and listed with all conflicts on the “News” page! Read more…

To see the rest of the news around South Carolina Science Olympiad, check out our new news page! Coaches, be sure to sign up for the mailing list to stay up-to-date!

Recent website changes and updates:

  • October 21: added state scoring guidelines to “Coaches” page, updated state directors section on “History” page

  • October 18: added draft competition schedule for the 2025 State Tournament to “News” and “State Tournament” pages

  • October 16: removed Emory University Invitational and added Forsyth Central Invitational to “Invitationals” page

  • October 14: added link to Science Olympiad rules corrections on Coaches page; expanded State Directors section on “History” page