TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama will host a Science Olympiad for high school students on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 9 a.m.

Some 600 students are expected to participate, which is a record number for the competition. Events will be held in several locations on campus, including the Biology building, Gallalee Hall, Hardaway Hall and Woods Quad.

The Science Olympiad is a joint project between UA's College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences. The UA College of Engineering is coordinating the event this year.

Some of the events scheduled are Battery Buggy, Bridge Building, Cow-A-Bungee, Mission Possible and Science Crime Buster. An egg drop will take place at 10 a.m. on Woods Quad. Several science lab competitions, including chemistry and physics, will take place during the day.

The Science Olympiad awards will be presented at 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Theater.

Schools participating in this year's event include: the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Berry Middle School, Carver Middle School, Geneva High School, Hamilton High School, Hewitt-Trussville schools, Hillcrest schools, Honeysuckle Middle School, Hoover High School, Hueytown High School, Jefferson County Baccalaureate School, John Carroll Catholic High School, Maddox Middle School, Meek schools, Muscle Shoals schools, Oak Mountain High School, Our Lady of the Valley, Pelham High School, Simmons Middle School, St. James High School, St. Peters Episcopal Middle School, Sylacauga High School, Trinity Presbyterian School and Tuscaloosa County High School.

For more information and a complete schedule of the competition, contact the UA College of Engineering's office for academic programs at 205/348-1598.