Trial Events | Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad Rules Development Process

Science Olympiad is continually in the process of researching, developing and evaluating new events. We are looking for events, activities and projects that engage students in all aspects of the scientific endeavor while presenting them with exciting and challenging problems to solve and content to master. In an effort to ensure our events meet those standards, we have established a process that moves an event from a creative concept through a series of pilots and trials, with the ultimate goal of making it into rotation as a current event.

Science Olympiad encourages event submission from a wide range of stakeholders. Anyone interested in proposing a new or modified event must follow the process below; know in advance that this process is intended to be multi-step and multi-year so the events are of the highest caliber.

Categories of Science Olympiad Events in Development

Creative Concepts - These events are off to a promising local start and would benefit from further student and event supervisor feedback before being considered a Promising Pilot.

Promising Pilots - These events have been successfully piloted in at least two states and would benefit from further student and event supervisor feedback before being considered a Featured Trial.

Featured Trials - These events have been successfully piloted in two or more states and evaluations have been submitted and reviewed. These events still need additional student and event supervisor evaluation before being considered a Current Event. Featured Trials should ideally be run in at least five states before becoming a Current Event.

Current Events - These events are in the current year's rotation in either Division B or Division C and have met the criteria of a successful event.

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Science Olympiad is interested in adding events in the bulleted areas below. We seek authors who will take these broad topics and create specific events with the intent to champion them through the process from RFP > Creative Concept > Promising Pilot > Featured Trial > Current Event. This requires following the steps below and being prepared to provide workshop presentations, student/coach resources and submit evaluations. Science Olympiad is calling for:

A new hands-on Biology Problem Solving Event
A new Agriculture Problem Solving Event
A new hands-on Earth & Space Science Problem Solving Event

To submit a new event please follow the process below:

If you have a new idea to propose, first determine if an event already exists by reviewing the Event History Chart, the current list of Event Descriptions, and the events in development listed below.
The next step is to format the proposed idea into an event rule using the Rules Template. Include the author's name and email (and the date/tournament site where the event will be run). Submit the Rule to the Science Olympiad National Office and the director (Choose from Contact List) who has agreed to run the event at an invitational, regional or state tournament. We will keep a record of events that have been successfully run in each state.
After successfully running a proposed event, submit the online Participant Evaluation and online Supervisors Evaluation and any rules edits to the Science Olympiad National Office where it will be reviewed in conjunction with Rules Chairs and Committees. Your Creative Concept will be evaluated to move up the chain to a Promising Pilot.
After two or more other states have successfully tried a Promising Pilot and have submitted Evaluations, the Science Olympiad National Office will determine, in conjunction with Rules Chairs and Committees, if the event is a Featured Trial that even more states should be encouraged to try.
Rules Chairs and Committees with Science Olympiad will determine the best placement for an event on one of the six Event Chart Timelines and submit chart recommendations for final review.

Note: At the National Tournament, Trial or Open House events will not count for team points and any team members (regular or alternate) can participate only once in each Trial or Open House event.

To ask questions about a specific Trial Event or to find out which events will be held at your tournament, contact your Regional or State Director. To Submit a National (only) Trial Event Question, click on the FAQs page and please submit them under Trial Events.

Creative Concepts

These events are off to a promising local start and would benefit from further student and event supervisor feedback before being considered a Promising Pilot.

Amazing Mechatronics - Division B & Division C (2018 North Carolina Versions)
Botany - Division B/C (2020 Life Science Committee Version)
LEAF Challenge - Division C (2019 Washington State Version) A flight event
Mechathlon - Division C (Jan. 22, 2018 Update)
Mystery Design - Division C (2016 Wisconsin Version)
Solar Vehicle - Division B/C (2018 Nebraska Version)

Promising Pilots

These events have been successfully piloted in at least two states and would benefit from further student and event supervisor feedback before being considered a Featured Trial.

Aerial Scramble - Division B/C (2020 Tech Committee Version)
- Score Sheet
Solar Power - Division B/C (2018 Physics Committee Version)
- Event Supervisor's Guide - New!
- Solar Power Score Sheet - added 5/11/18
- Solar Power Example Graph - added 5/11/18
- Solar Power Trial Event Digital Download DVD in the SO Store - new! (combo pack with WiFi Lab)
Source Code - Division C (2016 Michigan Version)

Featured Trials

These events have been successfully piloted in two or more states and evaluations have been submitted and reviewed. These events still need additional student and event supervisors evaluation before being considered a Current Event. Featured Trials should ideally be run in at least five states before becoming a Current Event.