Ashhar Ali from the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills scrambles to catch two eggs dropped from four stories above by Qasim Shakeel. The two used their team's egg-catcher invention May 3 at the second annual U-M Physics Olympiad, a contest organized by the Physics Department. Students from high schools around the state bounced laser beams through optical mazes, floated balloons into the air, launched rockets, and designed egg-catching machines. Working in teams, the physics students competed for medals in events with titles like "Laser Maze" and "Rocket Mania." Members of the Society of Physics Students were involved in planning the competition, and together with U-M professors and staff, conducted the various contests. "Our main goal is to help high school physics teachers by providing a challenging and fun academic competition for their students," says laboratory supervisor Ramon Torres-Isea, who organized the event. "We also want to engage our own students and encourage them to assume responsibility for teaching science to others."

Troy Athens High placed first; Ovid-Elsie High was second; Redford Union and University of Detroit Jesuit tied for third. (Photo by Carol E. Rabuck)