SALT LAKE CITY — J.J. Keeney watched the dial spin as he wound up his rubber-band-powered airplane.
With about 600 rotations the light-weight "Albatros" will fly for an average of six minutes, but it took a while to get to that — 12 prototypes, actually, with each using various scientific tricks, such as Kevlar threads, mathematically calculated wing direction and an off-center rudder.
"It's cool when everything works like it is supposed to," Keeney, a Lehi High School junior said Saturday during the Science Olympiad regional competition. The 17-year-old, one of about 450 middle- and high-school students at the event, said he wants to become a geologist or an engineer.
"There's always something new to discover," Isabella McCombs said about science, which is one of her favorite subjects in school.
The Willow Creek Junior High School student was the driver behind one of the electronic Lego robots that went head-to-head pushing Subway sandwiches across the floor at Westminster College. The robots used to be wired to a hand-held remote control, but now work via a wireless Bluetooth connection, which McCombs said is her favorite thing about it.
"Math, science and technology classes are my favorite … and much easier to sit through than, eh, English," she said, halfway joking, but sticking out her tongue.
Science Olympiad involves kids from kindergarten through 12th grade across the United States, with local, regional and national competitions held throughout the year. Competition increases after 6th grade, with activities functioning much like competitive sporting events. Students participate in various subjects, each revolving around the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
"The pages of rules these kids have to follow just blows my mind," said Jaimi Butler, Science Olympiad coordinator at Westminster College, which hosts the events to give kids an opportunity to experience a college campus.
"It helps them get and stay excited about STEM classes," she said.
Utah falls behind the nation in the number of graduates pursuing science, technology, engineering and math fields and Butler said research has shown that upping those numbers and producing more highly trained college grads can help enhance the economy.
"I don't think it's been cool to do," she said. "But we're seeing a shift. Events like these cause a lot of excitement."
The top teams from regional competitions, such as the one at Westminster on Saturday, will qualify to participate at the state tournament held at the University of Utah on April 11.
While the students train their devices and projects to perform various stunts, or try to outlast other student teams, the events promote a friendly competition and give students an opportunity to meet other kids who like the same things they do, Butler said.
"It lets them do something different and fun," she said.
Dennis Erickson, Olympiad coach and a biology teacher at Fairfield Junior High, said the activities help build confidence in students.
"They know what they are doing and why," he said. "It's much better than the science fair, where parents end up doing most of the work."
Students attend Olympiad events on their own time, after school and on weekends, sometimes competing to participate in their favorite events, such as the motorized robotics. Erickson, who has been an Olympiad coach for 25 years — the longest standing in the state — said some years fossil study falls to the bottom of the list, other years its entomology, or the study of bugs.
"I like to show kids that there are always new things to learn about our world," he said. "We still have to find cures for diseases and much more. These kids are our future leaders of America."
Email: wleonard@deseretnews.com, Twitter: wendyleonards