HAMMOND – Purdue University Calumet will be the site of the Indiana Science Olympiad for middle and high school science students on Saturday, April 2.

            In all, 20 Northwest Indiana teams will be among 48 participating in the event. The Science Olympiad is a national initiative designed to promote improved science education and advance teamwork and cooperative learning. The competition features groups of two students from each team competing in two dozen, hands-on events relating to engineering, biology, chemistry, physics and earth science.

            “This event encourages, excites and enhances students, beyond the scope of their normal school activities, in the nationally promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiative,” said Gretchen Wolf, a Purdue Calumet instructor and Indiana Science Olympiad State Tournament director.

            Northwest Indiana middle school teams are from Franklin and Jefferson in Valparaiso, Wilbur Wright in Munster, Chesterton, St. Patrick’s from Chesterton, Pierce from Merrillville, Scott from Hammond, Grimmer from Schererville, Taft from Crown Point, St. Mary Catholic of Crown Point, Rensselaer Central and St. John the Baptist from Whiting.

            High School teams are from Chesterton, LaLumiere, Lake Central, Michigan City, Munster, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and Whiting.