Tournament Information
2010 Competition List & Resources
Coaching resources can be found for each event by clicking on the name of the event. TRIAL EVENT OFFICIAL RULES are posted here as well.
Anatomy (B) – This event encompasses the anatomy (structure and function) of the skeletal and muscular systems and the effects of aging and diseases on them.
Anatomy & Physiology (C) – This event encompasses the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal, muscular, and endocrine systems.
Astronomy (C) – Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of mathematics and physics relating to galaxies.
Battery Buggy (B) – Teams will construct a vehicle that uses electrical energy as its sole means of propulsion, quickly travels a specified distance, and stops as close as possible to the center of the finish line.
Bio-Process Lab (B) – This event is a lab-oriented competition involving the fundamental science processes of a middle school life science/biology lab program.
Can’t Judge a Powder (B) – Students will test and characterize one pure substance and then, based only on date they collect, answer a serious of questions about the substance.
Cell Biology (C) – This event integrates content knowledge and process skills in the areas of cell biology and cellular biochemistry.
Chemistry Lab (C) – Teams will answer a series of questions or complete a task involving the science processes of chemistry focused in the areas of kinetics and aqueous solutions.
Compute This (B) – This event integrates Personal Computing (PC) technology, the Internet, and quantitative data analysis. Teams are presented with a problem that requires quantitative data capture from the public Internet and the organization and presentation of data in a graphical format. Short answer questions related to the problem are also included.
Disease Detective (B/C) – Students will use their investigative skills in the scientific study of disease, injury, health, and disability in populations or groups of people with a focus on the effects of population growth on public health outcomes.
Dynamic Planet (B/C) – Students will use process skills to complete tasks related to earthquakes & volcanoes.
Ecology (B/C) - Students will answer questions involving content knowledge and process skills in the area of ecology and adaptation in featured North American biomes.
Egg-O-Naut (C) – Prior to the tournament, teams will construct rockets designed to stay aloft the greatest amount of time while carrying an Egg-O-Naut (a raw Grade A large chicken egg) that survives (doesn’t break) impact.
Elevated Bridge (B/C) – The object of this event is to design and build the most efficient bridge.
Environmental Chemistry (C) – This event will focus on Soil Chemistry related to Environmental Chemistry.
Experimental Design (B/C) – This event will determine a team’s ability to design, conduct, and report the findings of an experiment actually conducted on site.
Forensics (C) – Given a scenario and some possible suspects, students will perform a series of tests. These tests, along with other evidence or test results will be used to solve a crime.
Fossils (B/C) – Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of ancient life by completing selected tasks at a series of stations. Emphasis will be on fossil identification and ability to answer questions about classification, habitat, ecological relationships, behaviors and the use of fossils to date and correlate rock units.
Game On (B/C-Trial Event) – This event involves creating a computer game using the free tool Scratch. Scratch may be downloaded from http://scratch.mit.edu. Students are presented with a theme, and must build an original game incorporating that theme. Students will be graded on completeness of the game as well as documentation and aesthetic appeal.
Helicopter Duration (B/C-Trial Event) – Teams will construct and test free flight rubber-powered helicopters to achieve maximum flight times.
It’s About Time (C) – Students will use a non-electrical device, which they have constructed prior to the tournament, to measure time intervals between 10 and 300 seconds. They will also be asked to answer questions about issues such as the concept of time, timekeeping, astronomy, physics, and mechanics.
Junkyard Challenge (B) – Competitors will construct a device on-site to solve a creative engineering challenge using only the material and tools that will fit in a “junk box” of specified dimensions.
Meteorology (B) – This event emphasizes the understanding of basic meteorological principals with emphasis on interpretation and analysis of meteorological data.
Microbe Mission (B/C-Trial event) – Students will answer questions, solve problems, and analyze data pertaining to viruses and single celled organisms.
Mission Possible (C) – Prior to the competition, the participants will design, build, test and document a “Rube Goldberg®-like Device” that completes a required Starting Task and Final Task using a sequence of consecutive tasks.
Mousetrap Vehicle (C) –Teams will design, build, and test a vehicle that uses one or two snap mousetraps as the sole propulsion energy source to travel a distance and return to the starting line center as quickly as possible.
Ornithology (B/C) – This event will test knowledge of North American birds on the official list.
Pentathlon (B) – Teams consisting of four members will compete in an academic pentathlon that will demonstrate the team’s overall understanding of the five major Science Olympiad content areas.
Physical Science Lab/Physics Lab(B/C) – Teams will build a blade assembly that consists of any kind of propeller/pinwheel/rotor attached to a compact disc (CD), which will be used to capture wind power and generate voltage. Students will also be tested on their knowledge regarding alternative energy.
Picture This (C) – The object is to have team members take turns drawing representations of a set of scientific terms/concepts (not scientists) while the other team member(s) guesses the term being drawn.
Protein Modeling (C-Trial event) – Students will use computer visualization and online resources to guide them in constructing physical models of proteins involved in swine flu (H1N1), with a focus on two proteins used in the naming of the flu viruses: Hemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N).
Remote Sensing (C) – Participants will use remote sensing imagery, science and mathematical process skills to complete tasks related to an understanding of the causes and consequences of human interaction with forest biomes.
Road Scholar (B) – Participants will respond to interpretative map questions on one or more state highway maps, internet-generated maps, or a road atlas, and one or more USGS topographic maps.
Science Crime Busters (B) – Given a scenario and some possible suspects, students will perform a series of tests. These tests, along with other evidence or test results will be used to solve a crime.
Shock Value (B) – Students will compete in activities involving basic knowledge of electricity, magnetism and simple electrical devices.
Solar System (B) – This event will address the Sun, planets and their satellites, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, the asteroid belt, meteoroids, Oort Cloud and the Kuiper Belt.
Sumo Bots (B/C-Trial Event) -- Prior to the competition, students must design and construct a competing robot (bot) that will attempt to force an opponent’s robot from a defined arena.
Technical Problem Solving (C) – Teams will be required to gather and process data to solve a given problem. Intermediate measurements and calculations may be required.
Trajectory (B/C) – Teams will design, construct, and calibrate a device capable of launching a projectile into a target area and collect data to develop a series of graphs relating launch configuration to target distance and height.
We’ve Got Your Number (B – Trial Event) - Students will use their knowledge of whole-number operations, number sense, and problem-solving ability to represent integers as expressions involving given digits and operations.
Wright Stuff (B) - Teams will construct and test up to two rubber-powered model monoplanes with a single propeller assembly to achieve maximum flight times.
Write It/Do It (B/C) - Technical writing skills are an important part of an engineer’s or a scientist’s ability to communicate precisely and clearly. This event will test a competitor’s ability to effectively communicate with a colleague in writing by having his or her partner construct a device from this written description.
