Institute for Geophysics

Understanding the Earth and other planets to solve key problems that affect us all. The world needs geophysicists!

  • About
    • Institutional History
    • Mission & Science
    • Code of Conduct
    • Job Listings
    • Postdoctoral Fellowships
    • Outreach
    • Contact
    • UT Austin Science Olympiad
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Geophysics Blog
    • In the News
    • Staff and Student Awards
    • Media Contacts
  • Research
    • Climate
    • Polar and Planetary
    • Energy
    • Marine Geosciences, Seismology and Tectonics
  • Staff
    • Research Scientists
    • Postdoctoral Fellows
    • Administrative Staff
    • Scientific Support Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Find an Expert
  • Students
    • Current Students
    • Recent Graduates
    • Meet the UTIG Student
    • Prospective Students
    • UT Marine Geology & Geophysics Field Course
  • Seminars
  • COVID-19
    • JSG Coronavirus Updates
    • Give to UT’s Student Emergency Fund

June 23, 2014

UTIG Sponsors Science Olympiad Events

The University of Texas’ Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) became a Silver Sponsor this year for the Science Olympiad, an annual national competition built upon science-themed challenges for middle school and high school students.

The mission of Science Olympiad is “increasing student interest in science, creating a technologically literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers,” as stated on the organization’s national tournament brochure.

The idea for UTIG’s sponsorship in the national tournament started with Dustin Schroeder, who had been with UTIG as a graduate student and earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in May.

Schroeder himself has a long history with the Science Olympiad. He began competing as an eighth grader in the Astronomy event and continued for the next four years through high school, winning first place nationally on two occasions.

After that, Schroeder has remained involved with the competition as an event coordinator for many years and, after relocating to Texas, as coach of a Science Olympiad high school team in the Austin area.

That involvement with the Science Olympiad reached a new level this year. After meeting with UTIG Director Terry Quinn, the two men helped establish UTIG as a sponsor of the competition’s Earth and Space Science events, including sponsored scholarship awards.

“Terry was really involved in giving the resources to not only give the scholarships but to pay for some of the travel and development of the event,” Schroeder said.

This year’s Science Olympiad National Tournament was held at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

In a statement on its website, the Science Olympiad organization outlined the importance of sponsors to its efforts: “Science Olympiad is privileged to have sponsors who are true partners in our mission.  Each of the corporations, associations and groups listed has a vested interest in improving the quality of K-12 science education, creating a technologically literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers.”

Schroeder represented UTIG at the 2014 Science Olympiad National Tournament, presenting a $1,000 scholarship to both of the Division B (grades 6-9) Earth and Space Science winners, who were eighth grade students.

Dusty Schroeder poses by the UTIG logo
Dusty Schroeder earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in May. (Photo by Terry L. Britt)

For Schroeder, this year’s national tournament and his role as a sponsor representative carried a strong personal significance.

“It’s interesting how I’m ending up bringing it back through this arc to space science,” Schroeder said. “This same competition in astronomy was what originally got me interested in school at all and going to college at all.

“To go through this arc now and then through the sponsorship with UTIG to actually be running this competition nationally that had this impact on me, it’s pretty full circle for me,” he added.

For more about the Science Olympiad, visit the official website. For more about the Institute for Geophysics, click here or visit the official UTIG Science Olympiad page.

Article by Terry L. Britt, former digital media coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin Institute for Geophysics. 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: education, geophysics, geosciences, high school, middle school, science, science olympiad, University of Texas at Austin, UTIG

Tweets by UTGeophysics

University of Texas Institute for Geophysics

J.J. Pickle Research Campus,
Building 196
10100 Burnet Road (R2200)
Austin, TX 78758-4445

Phone: 512-471-6156
Fax: 512-471-2370

Driving Directions

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

QUESTIONS?

frontdesk@ig.utexas.edu
or contact the webmaster
social@ig.utexas.edu

RESOURCES

Seismograms

Publications Database

Texas ScholarWorks

Travel Guide for UTIG Employees

Google Scholar

Facilities

HELPFUL LINKS

Directory (EID)

Job Listings

UTIG Fact Sheet

UTIG Brochure

UTIG Science Vision Plan

UTIG Newsletter

UTIG Code of Conduct

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

OUR PARTNERS

Bureau of Economic Geology

Department of Geological Sciences

Center for Planetary Systems Habitability

Visit the Jackson School's website

Copyright © 2022 University of Texas Institute for Geophysics
The University of Texas at Austin · Web Privacy Policy · Web Accessibility Policy