The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is preparing to welcome nearly 700 of the state’s brightest middle and high school students on Jan. 7, 2026, for the New Jersey Science Olympiad regional tournament.
The competition, hosted by NJIT’s Center for Pre-College Programs and the Newark College of Engineering, will transform the University’s Campus Center Ballroom and state-of-the-art Makerspace into a hub of high-stakes scientific inquiry and engineering.
Now in its 33rd year, the Science Olympiad is New Jersey’s premier STEM competition. The regional event at NJIT features 50 registered teams—20 in the middle school division (Division B) and 30 in the high school division (Division C)—representing approximately 45 schools across the state.
The tournament is designed to move beyond traditional textbook learning, challenging students to apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
“The New Jersey Science Olympiad events are closely aligned with Next Generation Science Standards,” noted a representative from NJIT’s Center for Pre-College Programs. “Students become ‘engineers,’ ‘mathematicians,’ and ‘scientists,’ learning how to design solutions to problems that affect everyone.”
The tournament features a diverse slate of events that test both theoretical knowledge and practical application. Key areas of competition include:
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Mechanical Engineering & Physics: Teams will showcase original constructions, such as Boomilevers (cantilevered structures designed to support maximum weight) and Scramblers (mechanical devices that must transport an egg quickly and stop it inches from a wall without breaking it).
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Aerodynamics: Students will design and test Helicopters powered by rubber motors, aiming for maximum flight time.
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Robotics and Tech: Events like Robot Tour and Engineering CAD require students to demonstrate proficiency in autonomous navigation and 3D modeling.
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Health and Nature: Teams will dive into Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Detectives, and Water Quality to solve complex biological and environmental puzzles.
The tournament is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Due to the high-intensity nature of the build events, specific sessions for “impound” (where devices are checked in for fairness) will occur early in the morning.
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Primary Date: Jan. 7, 2026
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Snow Date: Jan. 14, 2026
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Locations: * Campus Center Ballroom: 150 Bleeker St., Newark, NJ
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NJIT Makerspace: GITC Building, 186 Bleeker St., Newark, NJ
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Advancing to the State Finals
While awards will be sent directly to schools following the event, the stakes are high. Top-performing teams from this regional round will earn the opportunity to compete in the New Jersey State Finals, with the ultimate goal of reaching the 2026 Science Olympiad National Tournament at the University of Southern California in May.
For many participants, the competition is a stepping stone to collegiate success. NJIT frequently sees former Science Olympiad competitors join its ranks as undergraduate researchers and honors scholars, continuing the legacy of innovation they began in middle school.
