Whether it was titrating solutions to determine their relative pH levels or designing and constructing a catapult from popsicle sticks, competitors in the Science Olympiad were up to the challenge Friday.

Students from 18 high schools across Windsor-Essex put their knowledge, teamwork and critical thinking skills to the test in hands-on, “minds-on” events organized by faculty, staff, and student volunteers from the Faculty of Science.

It’s a valuable learning experience for the secondary school students and gives many a glimpse of the future, says Dawn Herdman, a science teacher from St. Anne Catholic High School.

“It’s a good opportunity for them to see the University,” she says, “especially the labs they will be in next year.”

Winners get a boost up on their post-secondary education, with members of the top-finishing team receiving scholarships worth $1,000 each to study science at the University of Windsor. This year’s champion was Massey Team A: Grace Wong, Linqiao Zhou, Michael Jez, Sofija Sekulovic, Michael Young, and Arpana Balachandar, who got a boost with an outstanding result in the forensics event.