PC Science Olympiad - 2024 Rules

PC specific rules for the 2025 Perimeter College Science Olympiad (check the below parts regularly as information will periodically be updated). PC rules will be considered first, then State rules come after PC rules, and if nothing is mentioned for either PC or State rules, then National rules will be followed:

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).
Electronic devices, including mobile devices and the different types of calculators allowed in events, are defined on the electronic devices definition page. In the event specific rules for PC below, whenever "mobile device" is mentioned, it is a reference to the electronic devices definitions as defined on the electronic devices definition page.
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. (ii) Two sheets with writing on one side of each is only allowed if the two pages have been alminated together preventing any removal (a page protector is not acceptable). (iii) Flaps, or any mechanism to increase the surface area of the single sheet of paper, are not allowed. (iv) It must be a single sheet per team, not one sheet per team member. (v) 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.
All binder materials must remain in the binder at all times. Pages / sheets cannot be removed from the ring binder during any event.
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.
Impound for devices is from 8:00am to 8:30am. Impound for devices will be at the event location. Devices will not be accepted after the impound time frame has ended (will not be accepted after 8:30am).
Devices cannot be modified/adjusted after they have 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.
For events where computers are provided by Perimeter College, the computer specifications are posted on the PC Computer page.
Gym specifications are shown on the gym page.

Event specific regulations at PC (and some reminders of National rules):

Air Trajectory: Each team must impound only one launch device, projectiles, and calibration data (if prepared). Items must be moveable by the competitors without outside assistance. Projectiles must not be capable of damaging floors, such as golf balls. We suggest tennis balls or ping-pong balls.
Anatomy & Physiology: No mobile devices are allowed. Two non-programmable, non-graphing calculators dedicated to computation are allowed. The event will follow the 2025 national skeletal muscles list.
Astronomy: Teams may bring one of the following: (i) Two 3-ring binders, (ii) a computer / mobile device of any kind and one three-ring binder, or (iii) two computers / mobile devices of any kind. Two calculators of any type dedicated to computation are also allowed in addition to one of three options previously described. If the participants are using a computer / tablet they may use the calculator app or other program on their device in place of a stand-alone calculator. Participants using computers/tablets as a resource should have all information stored so that it is available to them offline.
Bungee Drop: Each team must impound onlt one elastic cord to be used for both drops that terminates in a closed metal ring approximately 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter (e.g. a key ring) that will not open. Each team must also impound calibration data (if prepared), which are the only papers or notes that teh competitors may bring into the competition area. Any tools used by teams to confirm heights, lengths, or mass during the time given for preparing their two drops must also be impounded. Bungee Drop will be performed in one of the stairwells in C building.
Chemistry Lab: Appropriate eye protection is required. No computers or mobile devices are allowed. One calculator of any type dedicated to computation is allowed per student. Pants must be loose fitting and long hair must be tied back. Competitors wearing tight pants or having long hair not tied back will be disqualified. We strongly recommend that competitors wear a lab coat as they will be working with a chemical that could stain clothes.
Codebusters: No mobile devices are allowed. Teams must bring writing utensils and can bring up to three non-programmable, non-graphing calculator dedicated to computation. These cannot include scientific calculators. These calculators must be 4-function or 5-function calculators only. The event supervisor will provide scratch paper that will be collected at the end of the event.
Disease Detectives: No mobile devices are allowed. Two non-programmable, non-graphing calculators dedicated to computation are allowed.
Dynamic Planet: No mobile devices are allowed. Two calculators of any type dedicated to computation are allowed.
Ecology: No mobile devices are allowed. Two non-programmable, non-graphing calculators dedicated to computation are allowed.
Electric Vehicle: Each team must bring and impound one Vehicle (with batteries discconnected), alignment devices (if used), additional/spare parts, and paper or practice logs (if used). Practice logs must be turned in at the time the vehicle is imponded. Teams may bring tools which do not need to be impounded. Tools can be electronic. Spare parts and aligment devices are not tools and must be impounded. Laptops, tablets, or other computers used for programming cannot be impounded. This event will be held in the hallway outside the gym shown on the gym page.
Entomology: Each team may bring one 2" or smaller three-ring binder, as measured by the interior diameter of the rings, containing information in any form and form any source, attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. Each team may also have one commercially produced field guide which may be tabbed or annotated. The event will follow the 2025 National Entomology list, which each team can bring one copy with them (in addition to the binder and field guide).
Experimental Design: Appropriate eye protection is required. No mobile devices are allowed. No mobile devices are allowed. Teams may bring one timepiece, one linear measuring device, and one stand-alone calculator of any type (these cannot be used as part of the experiment, they msut only be used for their intended function). Students who make up data without actually performing the experiment they design will be given zero points for the conduction, data reporting, and conclusions parts for the experiment in the grading of the event.
Forensics: Appropriate eye protection is required. Each participant may bring one unique 8.5' x 11.0' sheet of paper, which may be in a sheet proector sealed by tape or laminated, that may contain information on both sides in any form and from any source without any annotations or labels affixed. A candle or other source of heat for flame testing will be provided in place of Bunsen burners. No mobile devices are allowed. Two calculators of any type dedicated to computation are allowed. Pants must be loose fitting (new Science Olympiad Organization safety regulation) and long hair must be tied back. Competitors wearing tight pants or having long hair not tied back will be disqualified.
Fossils: No mobile devices. Teams can bring one magnifying glass and one three ring-binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source, attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. Each team may also have one commercially produced field guide which may be tabbed and annotated. Each team may bring one copy of the 2025 National Fossils list, which does not need to be secured in the binder and may be annotated. Two non-programmable, non-graphing calculators dedicated to computation are allowed.
Geologic Mapping: No mobile devices are allowed. each team may bring one three ring-binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source, attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. Each participant may bring one protractor, one metric ruler, and one stand-alone non-programmable, non-graphing calculator dedicated to computation.
Helicopters: Teams may bring up to 2 helicopters, flight log, transportation boxes, tools, and equipment. Teams msut bring one or more measurement boxes; transportation and measurement boxes may be the same box. Flight logs must be turned in at the start of the hour for when the team competes. This event will be held in the gym on the region with floor covering shown on the gym page. This year the event will have two flight areas, allowing two teams to participate in their own area simultaneously.
Materials Science: Appropriate eye protection is required. No computers or mobile devices are allowed. One calculator of any type dedicated to computation is allowed per student. Pants must be loose fitting and long hair must be tied back. Competitors wearing tight pants or having long hair not tied back will be disqualified. We strongly recommend that competitors wear a lab coat as they will be working with a chemical that could stain clothes. N95 masks must be worn in the location where the cement testing is being done. No mobile devices are allowed. Each participant may bring one unique 8.5' x 11.0' sheet of paper, which may be in a sheet proector sealed by tape or laminated, that may contain information on both sides in any form and from any source. The written and lab activity part of the event will be done in the same session. The puck testing will be scheduled through a sign-up outside of the 50 minute session and perforemd on an outside covered walkway.
Microbe Mission: Appropriate eye protection is required. No mobile devices are allowed. Each participant may bring one unique 8.5' x 11.0' sheet of paper, which may be in a sheet proector sealed by tape or laminated, that may contain information on both sides in any form and from any source without any annotations or labels affixed. Two non-programmable, non-graphing calculators dedicated to computation are allowed.
Optics: No mobile devices. Teams can bring one three ring-binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source, attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. Particpants may remove information or pages for their use during any part of the event. Two calculators of any type dedicated to computation are allowed. Teams are allowed to bring tools, premade templates, supplies, and writing utensils. Teams must not bring lasers, mirrors, other optical devices (aside from personal eyeglasses or contacts), or electronics (other than calculators). The written and hands-on part of the event will be done in the same session.
Robot Tour: Each team must bring and impound one robotic vehicle (robot), a practive log (if prepared), alignment device, robot program(s), and any additional spare parts. Laptops, tablets, or other computers used for programming cannot be impounded. The robot's program(s) msut be impounded using the following storage media but not limited to these options: USB drive, SD card, Robot's flash memory. The impounded practice log are the only papers or notes that the competitors may bring into the event area and use during their time slot. Teams may bring tools which do not need to be impounded. Tools can be electronic. Spare parts and aligment devices are not tools and must be impounded. Teams are responsible for providing their own programming tools, cables, and/or computers. We will have 2 identical tracks and we will be assigning teams to a specific track on the day.
Tower: Appropriate eye protection is required. Teams without proper eye protection will be immediately informed and given a chance to obtain eye protection if time allows. Participants not wearing eye protection will not be allowed to compete and will be placed in Tier 3. Each team is allowed to etner only one structure, built prior to the competition. Participants may not bring any equipment such as levels or squares.
Wind Power: No mobile devices. Teams can bring one three ring-binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source, attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. Particpants may remove information or pages for their use during any part of the event. Two calculators of any type dedicated to computation are allowed. Teams are allowed to bring tools, supplies, and writing utensils. Each team may bring one pre-constructed blade assembly device. Any device is too heavy and/or not well put together (possibly damaging the setup) will result in a disqualification without any testing or attaching to the setup.
Write It Do It: No mobile devices or calculators are allowed. The participant doing the writing must bring a writing utensil. No other materials or resources are allowed.