Science Olympiad was created by Dr. Gerard J. Putz and Jack Cairns in 1983 as an extra-curricular activity to enhance science education, and foster an interest in science. This has now grown into a national program, and currently has more than 13,500 active participants in K-12 schools. The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) is branch of Science Olympiad, and includes students from all over Washtenaw County.
The goal of Science Olympiad is to help enhance the quality of science education, increase exposure to various scientific topics, and foster students interest in science. The Science Olympiad Tournament provides students with the unique opportunity of receiving recognition for an academic competition, usually associated only with athletics.