HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i at Manoa will hold the 19th annual Hawai'i Physics Olympics & Regional Bridge Building Contest from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. today at the Physical Science Building on the UH Manoa campus.

The event will feature 30 teams of high school students on O'ahu who will challenge each other in five fun events based on concepts in physics. The events will be designed and run by undergraduate students from UH Manoa, Kapi'olani Community College, and Brigham Young University Hawai'i. About 150 high school students are expected to participate.

In addition to the five required events, there will be an optional bridge building contest. Testing of bridges entered will be done in Physical Science Room 217 throughout the morning.

An awards ceremony will follow from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

The public is invited to view the events, but space is limited and seating may not be available for spectators.

The event is sponsored by American Association of Physics Teachers Hawai'i Chapter, the Engineering Club at Kapi'olani Community College, and the Society of Physics Students University of Hawai'i Chapter.