RULE CLARIFICATION AND

HELPFUL LINKS

Event Clarifications, Q&As, and Resources: 

Updated: January 3, 2012

 

The tentative event schedule will be posted on our website the week of the Olympiad.

It is always tentative until the day of the event.

 

2011/12 Science Olympiad

Fall Coaches Workshop Presentations

"Dynamic Planet" PDF -- Michaella Gorospe

"Optics" PDF -- Dr. Carlos Carrillo-Lopez

"Protein Modeling" -- Dr. Rebecca Reiss

Protein modeling information -- http://cbm.msoe.edu/stupro/so/index.html

Event information from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Center for BioMolecular Modeling (CBM) who is working with Science Olympiad this year.

Protein modeling kits are available for purchase at http://www.3dmoleculardesigns.com/scienceolympiad.asp.

Magnetic protein model kits and other supplies are available at http://3dmoleculardesigns.com/news2.php#aminoacid.

Helicopters Instructional DVD demonstrating the construction of a model helicopter conforming to the 2011-2012 Science Olympiad event rules is available from the National Free Flight Society, a nonprofit model airplane hobbyist group.

The DVD is 50 minutes in length, and covers construction steps in detail.  It also includes computer downloadable plans, templates, a glossary and a flight troubleshooting guide.  A 2 hour long DVD covering basic model building techniques and construction of a Wright Stuff type airplane is also available.  Details may be found at http://freeflight.org/shopping/, select DVD.  The helicopter DVD is $5.95, the airplane DVD is $9.95, and the two together are $14.95, all plus shipping.  

If involved with Science Olympiad, or working with youngsters, the DVDs may be purchased by check, money order or purchase order directly from the following address for the listed price plus $3.00 postage.  They may also be ordered at the online link shown above, but the shipping and processing fee for this option is $11.00 at this time - check for possible future reductions.

Jack Shafer, National Free Flight Society Foundation

NFFS Publications Services

PO Box 1775

Albany, OR 97321

 

Compute This -- Gavin Torres, Event Supervisor

The software on NM Tech's computers is Microsoft Office Suite 2007.

Forestry -- To Be Announced

Attached is the official Forestry List, thanks to Dr. William Norris from Western NM University.  According to Dr. Gerard Putz, from the National Science Olympiad, many states have slightly revised their state tree lists to include trees within their state.  Dr. Norris has done this as well. 

This is the “Official New Mexico Science Olympiad Forestry List."  This list will be used during the NM Science Olympiad on February 25, 2012.  This list was emailed and mailed to every school that is registered with the NM Science Olympiad office. 

Official NM Science Olympiad Forestry List:  PDF   Word Doc

     See attached  list of ~ 40 tree species that Dr. Norris pared down from the big list. Note that the three significant changes that veer from this list:  

1)      Inclusion of Quercus gambelii (Gambel’s Oak) which is one of the most common, readily identified oak species in the southwest.

2)      Inclusion of Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm), which is perhaps one of the two most common trees in urban settings in this state.

3)      Ditto #2 for Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven), which is in the official list but only listed for the eastern region.

 The above three tree species are indicated with asterisks in the attached lists.

 

Bottle Rockets -- Dr. Dana S. Ulmer-Scholle, Event Supervisor

Q.  Does a Sharpie marker count as a type of paint?  

A.  At the State level, using “Sharpie” pens does not count as paint.  I searched and did not find this question anywhere on the National website.  Therefore, we conclude that using a “Sharpie” is not a problem if it is used to write the name of team/members on the bottle rocket.   I do discourage covering the entire or large areas of the bottle with a “Sharpie” pen because Nationals may consider this "painting".

Keep the Heat -- Jean Davis,  Cloudcroft, Southeast Region Event Supervisor

Q.  (Directed to the Jean Davis, from the Southeast Region)  How do you heat the water and are you using digital thermometers?  Also if they think they can really run the event in an hour or if they are extending it?  In Albuquerque, there isn’t a lab available, so we have to figure out how to do it without a lab.

 A. In the past digital thermometers have been used at state. I would practice with both, but for regional most schools don’t have very many or any at all so the regular ones would work.  As far as time, if there are very many teams, 10 or more you might need two set ups, or you could extend the time.  I would just bring 2 hot plates and beakers to heat the water.  

Optics -- Dr. Carlos Lopez Castillo, Event Supervisor

 Q. Can you use more than 1 template on the optic table?  Could you use several templates?

 A. The rules say that you can bring "premade templates", so you may use as many as you need.

December 14, 2011 -- Rule Clarifications from National Science Olympiad, Rules Clarification/Science Olympiad website.

Towers B/C (10/17/11): Add one line, "6.c.iv. The tower height is measured to the highest tower point on which the bottom of the loading block rests."

Protein Modeling 3.c. Part II: The On-Site Model (10/18/11): the pdb for Regionals should read 1i3o.pdb (the letter "o", and not the number zero).

Events requiring Eye Protection #5 (High Impact Protection - ANSI Z87+) - Goggles with lenses identified as Z87+ regardless of markings on other parts of the goggles and Spectacles identified as Z87+ with side shields regardless of markings on other parts of the spectacles will be acceptable for events requiring High Impact Protection #5. (4/8/10)

Reach for the Stars: 3.a. (11/9/11): The correct spelling of Canes Venatici is with an "i" at the end not an "a". 

Thermodynamics: 4.a.v should read (11/9/11):  Teams may elect to add up to 100 mL of water from an ice bath to their internal beakers immediately after receiving the hot water for bonus points.

Water Quality B/C 3.c. (12/12/11): At Nationals, the saltwater solution (most likely NaCl) will be made by adding salt to a volume of water until a predetermined total volume is reached (e.g., a 6.5% solution can be made by dissolving 65g of NaCl in water until a total volume of 1L is reached). Teams will record concentrations in percent (1-10 and estimate the tenth). At Nationals (maybe State) any percent ± 0.5 (maybe ± 1 at Invitationals/Regional) will be given full credit (partial credit may be awarded for other percents). The points for this testing should be approximately 5% of the total score (e.g., if a team recorded between 6.0-7.0%, they could receive 5 points out of 100). There is no restriction on the salinometer type as long as it is built by the team.

Olympiad Students!  Nominate your coach for the

Coach of the Year Award!   

This award is presented each year to one Middle School and one High School Science Olympiad Coach. It serves to recognize those individuals who have made a positive contribution to Science Olympiad, their students, their school, and their community.  Deadline for nomination forms is February 17, 2012. 

Click for a nomination form.    PDF Format              MSWord Format