New Mexico Science Olympiad Mission Possible Event Policies

Last updated 11/5/09

Welcome to Mission Possible 2010

1. Doors will open at TBA AM to begin impound and setup. Judging will begin at TBA AM

2. You must be signed in before TBA PM in order to compete. No Exceptions.

3. Check in with event staff when you arrive. They will direct you to sign in and give you instructions on where to store or set up your device. If you do not check in you will not be queued for participation. Be sure to sign up under the name of your school - not the name of your town. Teams will be admitted for competition in order of check-in time. If you have scheduling concerns make them known at check-in time. We will do our best to accommodate issues, but make no guarantees.

4. Once you are signed in, you must remain present until your participation is completed. Be nearby and ready to begin setup when instructed. Teams absent when called to set up will be removed from queue.

5. Parents and coaches may observe the event but may not assist the student team members in any way (aside from assistance with transporting the device).

6. Only team members and their coach are allowed in the Staging and Evaluation Area. All others must remain in the Waiting Area.

7. Only devices actively engaged in official setup or evaluation are allowed on tables or in the Staging and Evaluation Area. Event staff will direct you when it is your turn to set up.

8. You must be wearing proper safety eyewear at all times while in the Staging and Evaluation Area (including setup time). If you do not have them on you will not be allowed to enter. Failure to follow safety procedures will result in disqualification.

9. The set-up period is timed and cannot exceed 30 minutes. Event staff will escort you to your table and mark the time you begin. After 30 minutes (or sooner if you are ready) you will be asked to stop and your Task Sequence List will be collected. Your device will be quarantined until the judges arrive for evaluation. You will be called back at that time to perform the event. Last minute preparations are appropriate at that time (such as lighting candles, activating sources, etc.)

10. All device construction should be finished before the device is brought to the event. The 30 minute set-up time is meant to give you time to make last minute preparations for converting your device from 'transportation condition' to 'competition condition.' It is not to be used as a time for construction of your device. Repairing minor damages to the device that are incurred during transport is acceptable, however do take proper care to safeguard against this risk. Remember that you may not have access to electrical outlets, water supply and other amenities at the competition site. Exceptions can be made for devices which require boiling water or other special preparations. Any equipment and related safety supplies required to meet these needs must be provided by the team.

11. Remember that your List must be in the approved format and easily legible - typewritten is best. Unintelligible lists will not be accepted and the device will not be allowed to compete. Only energy transfers listed on the Transfer List are eligible for points.

12. We will be photographing each device for judging reference and future promotion of the event. If you prefer that we not use the picture of your device please alert the sign-in staff, and we will delete your picture after the event judging is complete.

13. When judging is complete you must remove your machine from the Staging and Evaluation area immediately. If you need to store the device, please consult event staff. Again, event site storage is at your own risk.

14. Final judging results will be calculated by the judges after your evaluation. You may not have access to your raw scores.

15. Above all, remember why you're here - to learn and have fun! We will do our best to judge fairly and accurately. Please understand that we are all here for a common purpose. Good sportsmanship is paramount. Thank you!