Tournament Resources

Example Events

Past test, keys, and photos are available to download here.

Geologic Mapping

Science Olympiad’s earth science event focuses on the interpretation and understanding of geological features and processes from geologic and topographic maps. The event — referred to simply as “Geologic Mapping” in official Science Olympiad rules, competitions, and resources — will run for three competition seasons (2013-2016) as an event for 9th through 12th grade students. UTIG supports the event by writing several exams used around Texas, as well as the national rules which proctor the event.

Geologic Mapping test students on their ability to “demonstrate understanding in the construction and use of topographic maps, geologic maps, and cross sections, and their use in forming interpretations regarding subsurface structures and geohazard risks.”

In the event, students are asked to complete one or more hands-on or interpretive tasks selected from the following topics:

i. plate tectonics, rock formation, Earth structure, Earth history, lithologies, and geological principles
ii. major structural elements, fold geometries, fault types, intrusion types, and subsurface geometries
iii. depositional and deformation sequences and erosional patterns
iv. cross-section of topographic profiles, projections of mapped features, and stereonet projections
v. bed thicknesses, orientation of planes from points, and map projection types
vi. geohazard types, methods to assess, monitor, and mitigate the associated risk aquifers, underground fluids, and methods of exploration and production

Resources

Reading geologic maps:
USGS Education
Geologic Maps from USGS
Geology on About.com

Download geologic maps:
USGS Map Locator and Downloader

Map Projections:
USGS Universal Transverse Mercator Grid
USGS Map Projections

Geohazards:
USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center

University of Texas at Austin Regional 2015 Test Materials:

Texas A&M State 2015 Test Materials:

University of Nebraska—Lincoln National 2015 Test Materials

Solar System

Science Olympiad’s planetary science event focuses on the observation and understanding of features and processes relating to extraterrestrial ice and water in the solar system. The event — referred to simply as “Solar System” in official Science Olympiad rules, competitions, and resources — ran for two competition seasons (2013-2015) as an event for 6th through 9th grade students. The event was sponsored by UTIG.

While the event is discontinued there is hope it will come back in the near future.

The Solar System event tests students on their ability to “demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the properties and evolution of extraterrestrial ice and water in the solar system.” It focuses on specific targets that include, but are not limited to: Mars (polar ice caps, equatorial glaciers, permafrost), Europa (Thrace Macula, Thera Macula, Conamara Chaos, ridges, cycloids, plains, ocean, plumes), Enceladus (plumes, tiger stripes), Iapetus, Triton, Ceres, Titan, comets, the Kuiper Belt, and the Oort Cloud.

In the event, students are asked to complete one or more hands-on or interpretive tasks selected from the following topics:

i. history and formation processes of specific features listed above
ii. remote sensing, imagery, and satellite measurements of the features listed above
iii. physical, thermal, and chemical properties of potential habitats for life
iv. past, current, and planned future missions to explore these objects
v. phase diagrams and different crystalline forms of water ice

Resources

National Exam:
Answer sheet
Answer Key
Exam questions
Image set 1
Image set 2
Image set 3
Image set 4
Image set 5
Image set 6

Example Questions:
Example questions 1

Example Tests:
Solar system guide 2 – Solar System Annotated Sample Test
Solar system test 1
Solar system test 2

Resource Presentations:
Surface features

Mars:
Mars Reconnaissance Rover
Mars Exploration Rovers
NASA JPL Mars Express
ESA Mars Express
PBS Habitability of Mars

Europa:
NASA Galileo Mission
JUICE – JUpiter ICy moons Explorer
Destination Europa
Life on Europa from Geology.com
Oceans in the Outer Solar System
PBS Habitability of Europa
ESA Cassini-Huygens

Enceladus:
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Cassini Solstice Mission
Snows of Enceladus-Europlanet

Iapetus:
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Cassini Solstice Mission

Ceres:
DAWN Mission – The Beginning of the Solar System

Titan:
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Cassini Solstice Mission
Oceans in the Outer Solar System
PBS Habitability of Titan

Comets:
Evolution of Comets into Asteroids