National Science Olympiad policies can be found here.
Georgia State specific rules can be found here.
PC specific rules for the 2016 PC Science Olympiad (check the below parts regularly as information will periodically be updated). GPC rules will be considered first, then State rules come after GPC rules, and if nothing is mentioned for either GPC or State rules, then National rules will be followed:
- Team coach's are to use this Official Roster form to list your participants. Email the completed excel file to Mark.Hollier@gpc.edu three days prior to the event and bring a printed and signed copy with you on the day of the event.
- Team names must be the school name followed by a number (1 for the first team, 2 for the second team, this depends on the number of teams you register).
- Laptops and Internet/WiFi enabled devices are NOT allowed at ANY event.
- Any event that lists "Each team may bring one 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper" in the official Science Olympiad Manual has the following stipulations: (i) it must be a single sheet. Two sheets with writing on one side of each is not allowed. (ii) Flaps, or any mechanism to increase the surface area of the single sheet of paper, is not allowed. (iii) It is a single sheet per team, not one sheet per team member. (iv) Violation of any of these stipulations will result in the sheet(s) of paper being confiscated and the team proceeding without the paper for the event.
- This year, a new format is being tested for the device events. Slots are given for each hour based on the time limit for each event, with a specific number of slots for each hour. Teams will turn up at the start of that hour slot for which they signed up for. The teams will be processed in the order that they arrived. Once the teams for that hour are processed, the event supervisors will return at the start of the next hour time slot. Teams who are not present by the time the last team is processed for that hour will be disqualified, even if they return within that hour time slot. They will not be allowed to compete in a different time slot. Teams must be present at the start of the hour time slot, and remain until they have competed.
- Any disputes or complaints can only be made by the team coach (not team members, parents, etc.). Team coach's should bring all complaints to Mark Hollier. Any person other than a team coach making a complaint will cause that team to be disqualified for that event. An unbiased judge will also be present on the day to assist with disputes and complaints.
- Devices cannot be modified/adjusted after it has been impounded. If the event allows modification/adjustment prior to the "testing" of the device, then this can only be done immediately before the device is "tested".
- For events that require safety goggles, it is the responsibility of the team members to bring the correct type of goggles as listed for the event. Descriptions of the types of safety goggles can be found here. Teams who show up without goggles or an icnorrect type will be disqualified.
- All safety regulations for each event must be followed.Any team member found in violation of a safety regulation will cause that team to be disqualified from that event. It is the team's responsibility to ensure they follow safety regulations.
Event specific regulations at PC:
- Air Trajectory: The device and log must be impounded at the same time according to the schedule. Any team not arriving with correct safety equipment will be sent to get correct safety equipment, and the time taken to do this will come out of their allotted time. Teams will not be allowed to extend their time slot for lack of safety equipment. The approximate dimensions of the area are: L = 7m, W = 4m, H = 3m. Pictures can be found in the pdf file here, the side view of the stage is here, and the front view of the stage is here.
- Anatomy & Physiology:
- Astronomy: Two 3-ring binders are allowed.
- Bridge Building: If the test support falls over during the event then the team is awarded tier 4 points level.
- Cell Biology:
- Chemistry Lab:
- Disease Detectives:
- Dynamic Planet:
- Electric Vehicle: The approximate dimensions of the area are: L = 16m, W (wall to wall) = 2.6m. Pictures can be found in the pdf file here, the full size corridor picture is here, and the full size floor picture is here. Due to the unforeseen closing of the gym this event was moved to a corridor. This was the only way to accommodate this event, and means that vehicles cannot deviate from the center line more than the walls on the corridor. The corridor is 2.6m wide. The following rules will be applied for this event. (i) If the vehicle hits the wall before 8.5 m it's run is over and that spot where the vehicle hits the wall gets measured to the end point for scoring. There will be a competition penalty according to the scoring of the event. (ii) If the vehicle hits the wall after 8.5m but before the end of the track, there is no competition penalty and the point it hits the wall is measured to the endpoint. Using laptops to control/program the electric vehicle: Rule 2k states "The vehicle must not be remotely controlled or tethered. The stopping mechanism must work automatically." The above general rules have stated no laptops for any events since November 2016. Laptops cannot be used to program devices. The device should have been built knowing this rule, and rule 2k in the event manual specifically states no remote control. Programming from a laptop is remote control of the device. Any device that requires programming from a laptop will be disqualified.
- Experimental Design:
- Forensics: A candle or other source of heat for flame testing will be provided in place of Bunsen burners.
- Fossils:
- Game On: The computer specifications for this event are: Dell OptiPlex 7010, Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3192 MHz, Ram 3,568 MB Read (4MB) total, Processor type x86, Processor count 4, Hard Drive: 222.737 MB, Windows 7 Operating System.
- GeoLogic Mapping:
- Green Generation:
- It's About Time:
- Protein Modeling:
- Robot Arm:
- Wind Power:
- Wright Stuff: No logs will be graded or reviewed. Teams are NOT to bring logs to the event location. The approximate dimensions of the area are: L = 12m, W = 9m, H = 3.8m. Pictures can be found in the pdf file here, the area picture 1 is here, and the area picture 2 is here.
- Write It Do It: