<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/6f45c3d8-c18c-4e97-aef1-8308d48e5cbe/svlogo.jpeg" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/6f45c3d8-c18c-4e97-aef1-8308d48e5cbe/svlogo.jpeg" width="40px" /> Want to learn earth science live? Enroll in ScioCamp.
</aside>
My name is Michelle Li. I’m an Executive Team member and instructor here at ScioVirtual. I’m also Dynamic Planet Event Leader on Mason High School’s Science Olympiad team (2021 and 2022 National Champions).
Throughout my Scioly journey, one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks is always creating my binders and cheatsheets at the beginning of each season. This issue stems mostly from the fact that each Scioly event encompasses such a large range of topics, so finding high-quality resources for each and every of these individual topics is basically a wild goose chase.
Thus, in hopes of making this study process more streamlined for you all out there, here is a compilation of my favorite earth science resources, along with tips for studying success.
Earth and Space Science is one of the four Science Olympiad domains, the others being Life Science, Physics and Chemistry, and Technology and Inquiry. As the name implies, it includes events pertaining to earth and astronomical sciences, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, etc. All Earth Science events are study events, meaning students take a 50-minute written test and there is no lab or build portion.
Related majors and careers: hydrology, geology, ecology, environmental science
Dynamic Planet is an event that dives into processes that change the Earth. The topic on which the event focuses rotates every year between hydrology, glaciology, oceanography, and tectonics. This year, it is hydrology – students will learn topics pertaining to Earth’s freshwater systems, including stream flow and drainage, groundwater and aquifers, lake formation and types, wetlands, and the effects of human activity on bodies of water. In terms of resources, students have a two-inch binder with which to take the test. Dynamic Planet is also a Division C event, so students can continue competing in it all through high school.
Related majors and careers: meteorology, climatology, environmental science
Meteorology focuses on understanding Earth’s weather and climate phenomenon. Topics covered include Earth’s atmosphere, energy balance, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, climate zones, and recent climate trends including climate change. This event also relies heavily on interpreting graphs and data, so it’s great for anyone who is analytical. Contestants bring two cheatsheets to competition. This event is most similar to the Division C event Remote Sensing.
Related majors and careers: geology, topography, cartography, land surveying
Road Scholar deals primarily with maps – reading topographic maps, highway maps, and satellite and internet maps, as well as constructing your own maps and topographic profiles. The student-constructed map is a key part of this event, so I would recommend it to anyone who is precise and meticulous in drawing. The great thing about this event is that it rarely changes from year to year – it doesn’t have a rotating topic of focus like other events; so, once you learn it, you can continue competing in it for the rest of your Division B career before moving on to Geologic Mapping, Road Scholar’s Division C counterpart. Students can bring measuring devices and reference materials, such as the USGS Topographic Map Symbols sheet, to competition.
