Event Descriptions

Division B (Middle School) Events

Anatomy

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of mathematics and physics relating to variable stars.

Bio-Process Lab

This event is a competition integrating content knowledge and process skills in the areas of cell biology and biochemistry.

Dynamic Planet

Teams will answer a series of questions or complete a task involving the science processes of chemistry focused in the areas of Acids & Bases and Titration Race.

Elevated Bridge

The objective of this event is to design and build the most efficient bridge meeting the design specifications. Each team may enter only one bridge, which must be built prior to the competition.

Experimental Design

This event will determine a team's ability to design, conduct, and report the findings of an experiment actually conducted on the site.

Fossils

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, ecologic relationships, behaviors and the use of fossils to date and correlate rock units.

Junkyard Challenge

Teams will prepare and bring materials to build a device to complete a task on site.

Physical Science Lab

Teams will design, construct, and launch rockets to stay aloft the greatest amount of time, which will carry an Egg-O-Naut (a raw Grade A large chicken egg). Some hosts may require eggs to be in a sealed plastic bag. The egg will remain aloft for a maximum period of time and return to earth without breaking.

Shock Value

Students will compete in activities involving knowledge of direct current (DC) Electrical Circuits. The event may include hands-on experimentation and/or problem solving.

Solar System

This event will address the Sun, planets and their satellites, dwarf planets, comets, astroids, the asteroid belt, meteoroids, Oort Cloud and the Kuper Belt.

Trajectory

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.

Write It, Do It

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.

Division C (High School) Events

Anatomy & Physiology

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of mathematics and physics relating to variable stars.

Astronomy

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of mathematics and physics relating to galaxies.

Cell Biology

This event is a competition integrating content knowledge and process skills in the areas of cell biology and biochemistry.

Chemistry Lab

Teams will answer a series of questions or complete a task involving the science processes of chemistry focused in the areas of Acids & Bases and Titration Race.

Disease Detectives

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

Students will use process skill to complete tasks related to earthquakes and volcanoes.

Egg-O-Naut

Teams will design, construct, and launch rockets to stay aloft the greatest amount of time, which will carry an Egg-O-Naut (a raw Grade A large chicken egg). Some hosts may require eggs to be in a sealed plastic bag. The egg will remain aloft for a maximum period of time and return to earth without breaking.

Elevated Bridge

The objective of this event is to design and build the most efficient bridge meeting the design specifications. Each team may enter only one bridge, which must be built prior to the competition.

Experimental Design

This event will determine a team's ability to design, conduct, and report the findings of an experiment actually conducted on site.

It's About Time

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.

Mousetrap Vehicle

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.

Physics Lab

Teams will build a blade assembly that consists of any kind of propeller/pinwheel/rotor attached to a compact disk (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

The objective is to have team members take turns drawing representations of a set of scientific terms/concepts (not scientists) which the other team member(s) guesses the term being drawn.

Remote Sensing

Participants will use remote sensing imagery, science and mathematical process skills to complete tasks related to an understanding of the causes and consequences of global warming.

Technical problem Solving

Teams will be required to gather and process data to solve a given problem.

Write It, Do It

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.

*** Trial Event(s) ***

Protein Modeling*

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: Hemaglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N).