Overview of Event Requirements & Guidelines for Coaches

Notes for future in-person events, INCLUDING 2023, are below.  (Virtual events do not have an overall competition winner, just winners in individual events.)

Research Events

• Your team must select a minimum of one Research Event for team scoring.  The research event must be performed by an event team of 2-3 students.

The event team must:

• Carry out background research about the topic/concept outlined in the event description.
• Plan and carry out an investigation or develop a model per the event description.
• Gather at least three (3) primary sources and compile them into a separate reference page.  For help, see: NJCO Part 1 - Using Research Literature and NJCO - Part 2 - Writing Citations in ACS Style
• Provide electronic copies of the first three pages of each primary source as evidence they have collected them, and include them as part of their research paper.
• Write a research paper as outlined in the Event Description, and submit a research report as indicated below. 

RESEARCH REPORT REQUIREMENTS

• Each team must submit their research reports ELECTRONICALLY.  You will be emailed directly by the NJCO Event Coordinator with information regarding how to submit the papers; we are looking at using a Google Form with upload capability or Google Drive folders for each team.  All reports must be submitted by April 17, 2023  Contact us ASAP with any issues - please do NOT wait until the last day to ask questions.  We may be able to allow one or two extra days due to difficult circumstances, but ONLY if extra time is requested before the due date.
• Each team will conduct a short (3-4 minute) presentation about their investigation or model on Event Day. Teams must demonstrate knowledge and show evidence of science and engineering practices.  Encourage students to practice their presentation before event day to ensure timing.

General Events

Your team must select at minimum one General Event for team scoring.  Webpage, Demonstration Show, and Information Search Events must be conducted by teams of 2-3 students.  The Nomenclature Event must be conducted by a team of 3 students.

Website Event

• Team conducts research to gain knowledge and resources about the topic outlined in the event.
• Team gathers credible sources and develop a separate reference page to clearly identify citations.
• Team develops website to submit to judges.  See the event description for specific content requirements.  Website should be able to run stand-alone off a CD-Rom (with NO Internet access).  Website should also be published to the Internet and URL submitted to the NJCO Event Coordinator via email by date above.
• Basic web development using standard HTML coding should be used. No plug-ins allowed.  All
• (Clarification added)  All HTML code must be put in one file and submitted electronically for text checking.  (concatenate or copy/paste into a single, non-working, HTML file for Turnitin to check)
• Primary focus of judging is content.  Any plagiarism will be dealt with by disqualification or penalty depending on the exact situation.

Demonstration Show Event

• Team finds or develops a 3-minute demonstration that addresses the topic and requirements outlined in the event.
• Team researches / learns about the chemistry behind the demonstration concept.
• Team prepares a paper to be submitted to judges. See the event description for specific content requirements.
• Team presents their prepared demo Event Day and answers question set posed by judges to clarify their understanding of the topic.

Chemical Nomenclature Event

• Team of three students prepares to take a computer-based test on nomenclature.  See the event description for information about the types of substances the test includes.  At least one practice test is available for students.  
• Judging is based on the total combined score of the student's individual test scores.

Information Search Event

• Team chooses a molecule from those listed in the event description to prepare a physical model with required elements to bring to the competition on Event Day.
• Team prepares to answer questions about their chosen molecule on Event Day.
• Team prepares to answer information search questions using the Internet on Event Day.

Lab Events

• Your team must select at minimum one Lab Event for team scoring.  Lab events must be conducted by teams of 2-3 students.
• Event Team must acquire or develop a lab procedure to achieve the task described in the event description.
• Event Team must practice the lab procedure prior to Event Day.  If the judge on Event Day believes that the team has not practiced the procedure, the team will be dismissed and disqualified for that event.
• Event Team prepares a numbered procedure they will use on Event Day.
• Event Team may also prepare one 3"x5" index card with information they need for the lab event.  Judges will return a printed copy of the numbered procedures to the team for them to use on Event Day.  Students may not bring any other materials into the lab on Event Day, unless noted otherwise in the event description.