New Mexico Science Olympiad

Any questions regarding clarification of rules must be submitted in writing to sciencefair@admin.nmt.edu. Rules clarification for State Events will be posted here.

You can also check the National website: http://www.soinc.org -the FAQ link is very helpful.

Event Clarifications, Q&A’s, and Resources:

Tower Building(B) - Boomilever (C)--No Impound

Robo Cross:

Q: I am working with a Cuebot Body with and RCX Brain + I am going to use a Lego Motor and Gears - will this work?

A: If you are going to use commercially available robots, you have to make sure that you don't use it as it is but have some kind of modifications to it. Like adding an arm or a scoop, etc. As long as you have some kind of modification, then that should be okay.

Forensics (C):

Q: When our team did Forensics last year they were not allowed to use Bunsen burners, even though these are needed to determine an accurate flame test. They had to use candles instead. Are they still going to restrict the use of Bunsen burners? The rules say we can bring a “heat source”. It does not say Bunsen burners are not allowed, but there may be a restriction due to gas jets unavailable. Please inform. JF

A. Bunsen burners will be provided this year

Astronomy (C):

Q: Your rules to coaches says that no device that can communicate outside the room is allowed. However, for the Astronomy event, it specifically states that a laptop computer is allowed. At UNM, there was free web access in the building so students could log on.If that is the case at NMT, is there something we need to do to disable it or will it be a rule that is statedto the competitors and they will be monitored (and considered cheating if they log on) or for that event will they be able to connect to the web if they so desire? The students are borrowing my laptop for the event, and I'm not sure I know how to disable the ability to connect to the web. PD

A. Laptop computers will be allowed, as per the rules, but internet access will not be allowed. In contrast to UNM, NMT's wireless is not open.

Remote Sensing (C):

Q: Hi, I'm from LC Science Olympiad and I was just wondering if you could give me the name of the remote sensing software you used last year at state. Thanks!! JP

A: This exercise will use NASA’s 'World Wind' virtual globe software to look at remote sensing data for Mars and Earth. The software runs on Windows and is available for free from: http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/index.html . The software is similar to 'Google Earth', but provides access to more varied data. Inexperience with 'World Wind' should not be a cause for concern. While prior familiarity with the software may initially help slightly, the program is very simple to use. The exercise is not about the software but rather is about interpreting the remote sensing data it provides. Precise instructions regarding use of the program to answer particular questions will be provided, and navigation to most particular features will be via predefined hyperlinks. The emphasis of the exercise is on remote sensing concepts and science process skills.

As stipulated in the rules for the event:

- Calculators are permitted and will be useful, (each computer has a calculator program available if need be).
- Since this exercise is computer based, there is no need to bring protractors or rulers (they are allowed though).
- A three ring binder may contain any reference materials competitors wish to bring.

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 21, 2008.

Click for a nomination form. PDF Format MSWord Format

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR COACHES!

TEAM HOME ROOMS

NM Science Olympiad does not assign team homerooms. Please note:

Team Coaches and Assistant Coaches are responsible for making sure your delegation (this includes parents) understands that this is a University campus and business is conducted here on the weekends. Be respectful to students, faculty, and staff as they will also be conducting business and research in the buildings.
The following areas are OFF LIMITS to all teams during the Olympiad

Any area assigned for use at any time during the Olympiad for an event is off limits.

Jones Hall Annex 2nd Floor - Only students participating in an event on this floor are allowed in this area.

Jones Hall Annex -3rd Floor is off limits!

Macey Conference Center may not be used as a 'home base' area

All Stairways are off limits.

Team Coaches and their Assistant Coaches are responsible for keeping the area in which your team claims as “Home Base” clean during the day. You are responsible for the contents, the cleanliness of the room, and putting the room back in the manner in which it was found.

Olympiad Officials will periodically check campus locations to ensure that these expectations are being met.

Trial Events

There will be no trial events for 2008.

Awards:

4 1^st-5^th place medals and team trophies, and 6^th-10^th place ribbons.

4 New Mexico Tech will award 10 New Mexico Science Awards of $700 to New Mexico Tech. Award winners will be the top ten, twelfth grade participants according to their individual placing in events. Students will receive their award at the time of enrollment at NM Tech in the Fall Semester 2008. Please remind your seniors to sign in (legibly!) at each event.

Macey Center and Dining Services:

Food or drinks from outside sources may not be brought into Macey Center. The Macey Center Upper Lobby Concession Stand will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and again from 3:30 until 5:00 p.m. Please do not take your food or drink purchased in Macey Center outside, as it will not be allowed back in.

Schools wishing to purchase breakfast or lunch for their entire team at the Cafeteria by purchase order should contact Campus Dining at 505-835-5111. For more information regarding NM Tech Dining Services, click here.

Snow Alert:

In the event of a winter storm, the Olympiad state finals will not be cancelled. The logistics of rescheduling over 1,000 people and associated facilities, food, lodging, and travel are inconceivable. It is the responsibility and obligation of your school district to determine the safety of travel for your students. New Mexico Tech and New Mexico Science Olympiad are not responsible for the safety of your students as they travel to the competition.

Scoring:

There is no public posting of scores! Coaches ARE NOT be allowed in the Scoring Room.

Friday Evening Entertainment:

A public Star Party will be held at the Etscorn Observatory beginning at 7:30 p.m on Friday evening. For more information on the Etscorn Observatory, click here.

The NM Tech Performing Arts Series will present the Madcap Variety Company in "Art, Science, Danger!" on Friday, February 22, 7:30 p.m. Macey Center. Tickets $14/Adult; $12/Senior; $10/Youth (20% discount for Science Olympiad attendees!) For more information on the NM Tech Performing Arts Series, click here.

Machete juggling, lasso twirling, live music and world-class tap dance. Madcap Variety Company features three veteran vaudeville performers combining their talents into one action-packed evening of hilarity, dexterity, and musical genius. The juggling of dangerous and ridiculous objects, the piloting of six-foot unicycles, the cracking of whips and other feats of skill, strength, and synchronization; all accompanied by jazz improvisation on multiple instruments by Shoehorn, the one-man-orchestra-pit. This is “new vaudeville” by masters of the genre.

WRITTEN POLICY ON PENALTY POINTS

Event Supervisors, Science Olympiad Director or Coordinator may assess penalty points.
Any penalty points assessed will be taken from the OVERALL TEAM SCORE.
Penalty points may be assessed for any of the following reasons.

Interference—Only students actually competing in an event (those who have signed in on the sign-in sheet provided to Event Supervisors) may enter areas where events are being held. Spectator events are at the discretion of the Event Supervisor.

For any student, coach, teacher, parent, or chaperone interfering with, or disrupting the administration of an event, up to 5 penalty points may be assessed.
For any student, coach, teacher, parent, or chaperone entering an event without proper authorization to do so, up to 5 penalty points may be assessed

Policy on Electronic Communications

Students with cell phones, PDAs, two-way radios, (ANY DEVICE USED FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION) must have them in the OFF (not vibrate) position during any event in which they are competing. Students who violate this policy will be penalized up to 10 penalty points.
Electronic communications usage will be allowed in buildings as long as it does not disrupt any event taking place in that area. Event Supervisors, Science Olympiad Director or Coordinator may assess penalty points for violation of this policy at their discretion.

WRITTEN POLICY ON CHEATING

Any individual who cheats during any event will be penalized by disqualification of the team from that event.
If a team, team member, or anyone associated with that team (coach, teacher, parent or chaperone, etc. deliberately takes an action that impairs the ability of other teams to fairly compete in an event, that team will be disqualified from that event.
If cheating occurs by a team in more than one event, or in successive years, the team may be disqualified that year, or the following year, from the entire competition.
Disqualification results in 0 points.

ARBITRATION

In the event of arbitration please refer to the following rules.

1. The event supervisor must sign the arbitration form prior to its submission to the Arbitration Committee. This doesn’t mean the event supervisor agrees with the appeal, but that the event supervisor and the coach have discussed the matter. Try to solve appeals at the event level.

2. Appeals regarding administration of an event must be submitted within 30 minutes of completion of the event.

4. The arbitration panel will determine time of submission.

5. The team coach must submit appeals.

6. The student(s) competing in the event under appeal must present the information to the arbitration panel. Coaches may be present, but must refrain from comment unless addressed by the arbitration panel.

REGISTERING A TEAM

To register a team in the New Mexico Science Olympiad, you must complete a registration form. Registration information for the 2008 Science Olympiad will be mailed to teachers in September.
There is a non-refundable registration fee of $125 per team. Please use only one name for the coach/contact person as only one person will receive mailing and be listed as the team's coach. Pre-payment is required. School purchase orders may accompany the membership application, but please note: The coaches manuals will not be shipped until full payment is received.
The registration fee entitles the member school to enter a team of up to 15 students in their respective Regional Science Olympiad competition and one copy of the Coaches Manual.
Payments not received by December 16 will be assessed a $25 late payment fee.
Participation in a Regional Competition is required for a team to qualify to compete in the state finals. Qualifying teams advance to State, with the State winners advancing to Nationals. It is the coaches responsibility to contact their regional director as soon as possible for information regarding their regional competition.
Some regional competitions allow more than one team to participate per school. If you wish to send more than one team to your regional competition, please contact your regional director. There is an additional fee of $25 for schools who wish to enter two teams at their regional competition.
Reminder: Only one team per school may qualify to compete in the State Competition.

Teams and Divisions:

There are two New Mexico Science Olympiad divisions: Division B-students grades 6 to 9 and Division C-grades 9 to 12.
A team may consists of as many as 15 members.
There is a maximum of five 9^th grade students (Division B) and seven 12^th grade students (Division C) permitted on a team.

FALL WORKSHOP

For more information or to register for the Fall Workshop, click here.

REGIONAL COMPETITIONS

Regional Directors List
Participation in a Regional Competition is required for a team to qualify to compete in the state finals, no exceptions!
Qualifying teams advance to State, with the State winners advancing to Nationals.
Team coaches are responsible for contacting their regional director as soon as possible for information regarding the regional competition.
New Mexico Science Olympiad State Competition restricts participation to one team per school. Some regional competitions allow more than one team per school participate in their regional competition. Please check with your regional director.

STATE EVENTS 2008

All events in the Coaches Manual will be held at the State Competition.
Specific rules have been developed for each event and these are described in the coach's manual. It is important that the current rules be read very carefully.
There will be no trial events for 2008.