NORTH MANCHESTER – The annual Manchester University Science Olympiad Invitational draws hundreds of middle and high school students to the North Manchester campus.

At the Jan. 21 invitational, 14 high school teams and eight middle school teams will bring about 300 students to the school in northern Indiana, according to a news release from Manchester University.

There will be more than 30 events and competitions, with activities that include solving forensic cases, codebreaking, and constructing devices such as roller coasters, WiFi antennas and bridges.

"This high-energy day is one of my favorite parts of my job," said Dr. Kathy Davis, who teaches chemistry at the university. She has been a part of the Manchester Science Olympiad Invitational since 2011.

The Science Olympiad encourages students to learn in different ways, stated the release. It also exposes them to Manchester's close-knit community where faculty inspire students to develop their curiosity through hands-on experiences in the classroom and the lab.

Dozens of Manchester faculty, students and staff donate their time writing events, running events and assisting visiting students during their day on campus.

Manchester University's invitational is one of five invitationals in the state this year. Invitational tournaments are a stepping-stone for regional competitions, where the top teams compete for a spot in the 2023 Science Olympiad State Tournament and a potential bid for the National Tournament.

Science Olympiad is a national organization that has provided premier competition opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) events for more than 30 years.

For more information, go to www.soinc.org.