High schoolers had to compete to show off their research and artwork at this week's GENIUS Olympiad.  Dr. Fehmi Damkaci, who teaches chemistry at SUNY Oswego, is organizing the week-long event, which is bringing 170 finalists (from 45 countries and 32 states) to the campus.  GENIUS stands for Global Environmental Issues U.S., and while this year's event focuses on two area, he plans to expand it annually to include creative writing and more  with environmental themes in coming years.  The participants will compete for scholarships, prizes and medals, and go on field trips (Niagara Falls and Waterloo Outlets are planned).

The public is welcome to look at the projects and exhibits, at SUNY Oswego's Hewitt Union, on Monday evening at 6:30, with the program opening at 8:15pm.

And, when the students leave SUNY Oswego, some will go home.  Many are staying with Dr. Damkaci, who'll be leading a 'road trip' to Washington, DC and New York City.  He says he set it up for the international students attending, but says some Americans, especially from Alaska and the western states, also saw it as an opportunity to see this side of the country.