2024 CARIBBEAN STEM OLYMPIADS

1.0 OVERVIEW

Science popularization initiatives are one of the most effective methods of engaging parents, students, teachers, and the public in STEM. The Caribbean STEM Olympiads (CSO) is one such annual initiative. The CSO is one of the projects of the CSF that aims to fulfill the commitment of enhancing the quality of secondary and tertiary science education in the Region while creating a technology-savvy workforce.

The CSF will be holding its second annual Caribbean STEM Olympiads on 17 – 21 January 2024. Several information sessions for the 2024 CSO will be held between 2 November and 20 December 2023 (see CSO 2024 Agenda below for details). At this time, the CSO is open only to citizens of CARICOM and CARICOM-Associate countries (not observer countries) who meet one of the age requirements. The CSO is also open to residents who have been living in a CARICOM or CARICOM-Associate country for the last 4 consecutive years.

The Caribbean STEM Olympiads were first held in January of 2023. A summary of the Olympiad events detailing the activities and the winning teams by country, event and age level can be found in the 2023 press release. This document also contains links to short video highlights of the Olympiad events.

The categories of the 2024 Caribbean STEM Olympiads are:
(a) CSF Math Olympiad
(b) CSF Computer Coding Olympiad (aimed at solving a challenge faced by Caribbean communities)
(c) Robotics Olympiad

Principals and teachers in CARICOM and CARICOM-Associate countries are encouraged to send teams of students to compete in the Olympiads. Teams from clubs and associations as well as independent competitors (not affiliated with a school/club/institution) are also encouraged to apply. Medal certificates and cash prizes will be awarded to the winning teams and individuals.

Objectives of the CSO

The primary objectives of the Caribbean STEM Olympiads are to:

Assist with STEM education reform and science popularization in the Caribbean
Raise community awareness of the importance of science and technology for job creation
Provide informal learning opportunities in mathematics, coding, and robotics (especially for young women and at-risk youth)
Ignite and nurture the STEM inventiveness in our youth
Encourage students to pursue further studies in the STEM-related disciplines
Give our medalists a competitive advantage on their university applications
Attract more scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and world-renowned technology-academicians to the Region

The Caribbean STEM Olympiads are designed to test the competitors’ creativity, their logical and analytical thinking, their problem solving, leadership, and teamwork abilities, as well as their math, coding and robotics skills. As such, the Olympiads are designed to push students just above their comfort level. Thus, in the Math Olympiad for example, the questions will not always align perfectly with the CSEC or CAPE syllabus by age level, as the CSF tries to bridge the gap with Olympiad standards followed by other leading countries. Typically, it is the exceptional teams that go on to compete in the finals of Olympiads. It is not unusual for students to study or work on their own or in teams outside the classroom to compete in international Olympiad events. It is hoped that the CSO will provide a stronger launchpad for future Caribbean teams to compete regionally and internationally in multiple age categories.

Another aim of the CSO is to encourage more female participation in the STEM disciplines. All other things being equal, teams with a larger fraction of females will be given preference over all-male teams during the selection process for participation in the Olympiad events.

A further hope is that, in the longer term, these events will help to pave the way for the formation of new technology companies that could have a global footprint. Thus, the STEM Olympiads complement the longer-term overall objectives of the Caribbean Science Foundation which include assistance with the development of STEM-based economic pillars in the Region.

Eligibility

In 2024, the CSO will be held on 17 – 21 January 2024 in a virtual format via the Zoom platform. In these STEM Olympiads, teams from secondary and tertiary educational institutions (or home schooled) compete in several game components at three different age levels:

Level I for students 12 – 15 years of age
Level II for students 16 – 18 years of age
Level III for students 19 – 21 years of age

Equal admission preference will be given to individual participants, teams from clubs and associations, and teams supported by their schools. Please note that each school, club, association, community college or university will be limited to one team per event. To be considered as officially representing a school/institution, the CSF must receive an email from the STEM teacher/coach or appropriate administrator indicating the institution’s approval and support. The email must be sent to applications.csf@gmail.com by 27 December 2023 with the subject line “School/Institution Endorsement”. The CSF reserves the right to confirm support of the school/institution.

Participants may enter a maximum of two levels of competition of the same event. More specifically, applicants may participate in the level immediately above that associated with their age range in the same event. Applicants are not allowed to participate in the same level of an event more than once. Please note that while we encourage Caribbean unity, for 2024, Caribbean citizens from different countries cannot be on the same team unless they permanently reside in the country associated with the team.

Substitutions can be made up to the start of the preliminary rounds (see CSO Agenda) for the CSF Math Olympiad, and substitutions for the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad and CSF Robotics Olympiad can be made up to the date teams are notified of their acceptance to the finals (see CSO Agenda). For all substitutions, both the person being substituted and the substituting person, must notify the CSF of the change via an email to applications.csf@gmail.com. If the application deadline has not passed, the substituting person must fill out the Application Form using the link in the ‘Application Form’ section of the website. If the application deadline has passed, the Application Form will no longer be available. In this case, the CSF will provide instructions on how to proceed. All substitutions must meet the citizenship (or residence) requirement and age requirement for the particular level. All substitutions are subject to approval by the CSF.

Devices and Services Needed for Participation

For these virtual events, the teams may choose any venue that has reliable, high-bandwidth internet, subject to the requirement that all the team members be in the same room at the same time (no exceptions). Venues may be a room in your home or in a school or office, but the venue must be a well lit, quiet environment (no barking dogs or noisy crowds nearby), and have a simple, plain, non-distracting background. Teams will be required to logon to the Zoom platform with 2 computers, or with one computer and a cell-phone camera running on the Zoom platform (or a similar image capturing device running on the Zoom platform). One computer will be dedicated to displaying the contestants’ faces and voices at all times, and the second image-capturing device or computer will be used for submitting your answers to questions asked, or to show demos of your code, or your robot in action. Please note that for the CSF Math Olympiad, 3 devices are preferred (see Guidelines for CSF Math Olympiad below).

Information Sessions for CSO 2024

To aid in preparation for the 2024 Caribbean STEM Olympiads (CSO), the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) will be hosting four Informational Sessions for interested persons. These sessions will:

Provide more information on the events of the Olympiads
Give clarification on the rules, entry requirements, the judging process, and more
Allow interested persons to ask questions and raise concerns

The dates, times and recurring Zoom link for these Informational Sessions are listed at the top of the Agenda below.

CSO 2024 Agenda

The table below contains a list of relevant dates for the 2024 CSO. Zoom links for the events can also be found below.

CSO 2024 Information Session 1	08 November 2023 at 7pm (AST) – Zoom link
CSO 2024 Information Session 2	27 November 2023 at 7pm (AST) – Zoom link
CSO 2024 Information Session 3	10 December at 7pm (AST) – Zoom link
CSO 2024 Information Session 4	20 December at 7pm (AST) – Zoom link
Application Deadline	11:59 pm (AST), 27 December 2023 for all events
Review Period for the Computer Coding Olympiad and the Robotics Olympiad Teams by the Review Committees	28 December 2023 – 07 January 2024
Preliminary Competitive Rounds for the Math Olympiad	02 – 07 January 2024. Some events may have to be scheduled in the evenings (5:00 – 8:00 pm AST)
Computer Coding Olympiad and Robotics Olympiad Finalists to be Notified	08 January 2024
Math Olympiad Finalists to be Notified	12 January 2024
Deadline for Finalist of the Computer Coding Olympiad to Submit Updated Code and Additional Information (see Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Computer Coding Olympiad)	13 January 2024
Deadline for Finalist of the Robotics Olympiad to Submit Updated Robot Demos and Additional Information (see Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Robotics Olympiad)	13 January 2024
Mandatory Communication Systems Checks for Math Olympiad Finalists (All three levels) – Choose one of the 3 time slots	12 January 2024: 7:00 pm AST 13 January 2024: Noon AST 14 January 2024: 3:00 pm AST
Mandatory Communication Systems Checks for both Computer Coding and Robotics Olympiad Finalists (All three levels) – Choose one of the 4 time slots	15 January 2024: 6:00 pm AST, 7:00 pm AST 16 January 2024: 6:00 pm AST, 7:00 pm AST
CSF Math Olympiad Finals	Wednesday 17 January 2024 during school hours – Zoom link
CSF Computer Coding Olympiad Finals	Thursday 18 January 2024 during school hours – Zoom link
CSF Robotics Olympiad Finals	Friday 19 January 2024 during school hours – Zoom link
Awards and Closing Ceremony	Sunday afternoon 21 January 2024 – Zoom link

Applicants will receive additional information about the preliminary rounds after the close of the application period.

Medals and Prizes

Medal certificates, prizes and cash will be awarded to the winning teams and individuals. The table below summarizes the contemplated distribution of awards and prizes for the winning teams and individuals by CSO event.

CSO Event	Medals for Winning Teams in Levels I – III	Medal certificates, cash and in-kind awards for winners, as appropriate, depending on sponsorship
CSF Math Olympiad	· Platinum · Gold · Silver · Bronze	· Medal Certificates · Up to US$ 500 to each medalist or team · Science kits, laptops, printers, books, software licenses, or gaming devices, etc. (sponsor dependent)
CSF Computer Coding Olympiad	· Platinum · Gold · Silver · Bronze	· Medal Certificates · Up to US$ 500 to each medalist or team · Science kits, laptops, printers, books, software licenses, or gaming devices, etc. (sponsor dependent)
CSF Robotics Olympiad	· Platinum · Gold · Silver · Bronze	· Medal Certificates · Up to US$ 500 to each medalist or team · Robotics kits, laptops, printers, books, software licenses, or gaming devices, etc. (sponsor dependent)

Distribution of Medal Certificates

In each level of the Math Olympiad, medal certificates will be distributed based on the final scores. The highest scoring team will receive the platinum award, the next highest will receive the gold award, and so on.
In fully subscribed Robotics and Coding Olympiads, medal certificates will be distributed based on the ranking of the teams’ final scores. That is, the highest scoring team will receive the platinum award, the next highest will receive the gold award, and so on.
However, in under-subscribed Robotics and Coding Olympiads (3 teams or less participating) a percentage grading system will be used determine which medal is received. This will be calculated as the final score received from the judges as a percentage of the total possible score. The percentages are weighted as follows Platinum: 90% – 100%; Gold: 80% – 89%; Silver: 70% – 79%; Bronze: 60% – 69%; Participation: 0% – 59%

Appeals

A team may appeal the scores allocated by the judges within 12 hours of the specific event. The appeal must be received by email to applications.csf@gmail.com and must include the names of all team members, Olympiad event, Olympiad Level, and description of appeal.
The Judges involved will consider the appeal and release a decision before the Awards Ceremony.
The decision of the Judges is final.

Prize Collection

Each team that has earned a cash prize must supply the necessary information for the CSF to release the cash by February 28th of the same year, afterwhich the cash prize will be deemed as forfeited.
Each team that has been sent their cash prize must collect their cash by March 31st of the same year, afterwhich the cash prize will be deemed as forfeited.

The Judges

The CSF invites persons, known to be experts in their field, to be judges. There is no application form for judges. Potential judges for the competitions will be carefully screened so they have no conflict of interest. They will be selected from the private sector, universities and the government sector, and the audience in some special cases.

Persons interested in serving as judges should send an e-mail to warde.csf@gmail.com specifying the event on which they are offering to serve as judge, along with a recent copy of their CV as an attachment. If the CV does not have much detail, a separate paragraph explaining their experience or qualifications would be helpful.

Mentor Engagement

For all the above Olympiad events, in addition to the assistance offered by your teacher or your peers, contestants may want to seek assistance from one or more mentors who are experts in the area of your project. Contestants should think of the mentors as your consultants on the project. It is the responsibility of the teams or individuals to leverage their mentoring resources. Your mentors or coaches do not have to be from the Caribbean. If you are having difficulties finding a mentor, you may ask the Caribbean Science Foundation to suggest some possible mentors. We will do our best to help!

Conduct During the Olympiads

Disruptive or distracting behavior will not be tolerated during any event of the CSO (informational sessions, preliminaries, systems check meetings, Olympiads or Awards Ceremony).
Any CSO participant displaying such behavior will be issued one warning. If the behavior persists, the participant will be removed from the Zoom meeting by the host and disqualified from the Olympiads.
Any observer or attendee displaying such behavior will be removed from the Zoom Meeting by the host.

For Sponsors

The CSF invites interested sponsors to provide the prizes for the CSO. In particular, the prizes to the winning teams and individuals could consist of cash, and technology-related prizes such as science kits, computers, printers, books, software licenses, or gaming devices, etc. We view our sponsors as our partners in making an investment in supporting and grooming the next generation of Caribbean STEM professionals. Sponsors also have the option to select which competitions they want to fund, or they may choose to contribute to the general pool of CSO activities, including the direct costs of planning and staging the events. Sponsors are also encouraged to propose problems whose solutions may be of interest to them, and we will consider adding them as CSO challenges for the participants.

2.0 EVENTS OF THE 2024 CARIBBEAN STEM OLYMPIADS

2.1 Guidelines for the Math Olympiad

The CSF Math Olympiad is an annual STEM event in the form of a competition where individuals or teams with a maximum of 3 persons per team compete to solve math problems in a limited time frame in front of an engaging and enthusiastic audience.

The questions for the CSF Math Olympiad will cover various topics:

Level I questions include: Consumer arithmetic, number concepts, fractions and decimals, statistics and probability, algebra, elementary geometry
Level II questions include: Algebra, coordinate geometry, introductory trigonometry, vectors, logarithms, exponentials, calculus, series and series and sequences, and probability
Level III questions include: Series and sequences, Euclidean geometry and trigonometry, calculus, probability, matrices, complex numbers, and differential equations

The first events of the Math Olympiad are the Preliminary Rounds. All teams that have complete applications are invited to the Preliminary Rounds. These are generally held early in January and consist of about 10 to 12 questions in different areas of Math. The Jeopard board is not used for the Preliminary Rounds. The goal is to reduce the field to less than 10 teams.

The 2024 Math Olympiad finals will be run as a “Jeopardy” style contest using a professional software platform. Unlike the TV version of Jeopardy where contestants can choose the topics on which they wish to answer questions, in the Math Olympiad, teams are expected to answer questions from a list of subtopics that fall under the main topic areas. The subtopics are listed below. A guide will be provided later to all Math Olympiad finalists on how to use the Jeopardy software, the number of devices required ( 2 or 3) and how to use them, the judging criteria, and the steps as to how the Math Olympiad event will unfold.

There will be communication systems checks to make sure that your systems are working correctly so that you are not disadvantaged during the competition(s). At these system checks, we will ensure that all teams have added their team name in front of their Zoom name, instruct teams on how to use the Jeopardy game software and explain the way the game works, as well as answer any questions which the teams might have about the CSF Math Olympiad.

Subtopics for the CSF Math Olympiad

For general guidance, here is a table of the types of subtopics that may be included under each topic. Suggestions for new topics that are better matched on average to the age levels may be sent to warde.csf@gmail.com. As such suggestions come in from the different countries in the Region, updates may be made so the subtopics (and the questions) . However, after 10 December 2023, the list will be frozen, and no further changes will be made.

TOPIC	SUBTOPICS (updated 20 October 2023)
	Level 1 (12 – 15 years)
Consumer Arithmetic	Discount, installment payments, simple interest, depreciation, income tax, currency conversion; etc.
Number concepts	Bases and powers; square and cube roots; fractional roots; real, prime, rational, irrational and composite numbers; simple sets, series and sequences; etc.
Fractions and decimals	Interpretation of fractions and decimals; conversion between fractions and decimals; fractions of fractions; addition/multiplication/division of fractions and decimals; etc.
Statistics & Probability	Mean; medium; variance; independent events; mutually exclusive events; simple probability calculations; etc.
Algebra	Variables; functions; solutions to single and double-variable equations; quadratic equations; applications to temperature conversion; travel distance-speed-time relations; etc.
Geometry	Rectangular coordinates, graphs; lines; triangles; rhombus; circles; perimeter; areas; etc.

	Level II (16 – 18 years)
Algebra	Polynomials; factorization; rapid graphing; variables; functions; solutions to multi-variable simultaneous equations; applications to computations in everyday life; etc.
Simple series and sequences	Summation; products; limits; interpolation; iteration, induction, etc.
Geometry	Coordinate geometry: Cartesian coordinates; properties of triangles, circles, polygons, cylinders and spheres; etc.
Trigonometry	Graphs of trigonometric functions; power series representations; triangle identities; Pythagorean identities; applications; etc.
Vectors	Addition; resultant vector; graphical representation; row and column vectors; dot product; etc.
Exponentials and Logarithms	Exponential functions; addition and multiplication; roots of exponentials; Products, quotients and roots of logarithms; change of base; graphing; power series representations; applications; etc.
Calculus	Limits and continuity; single variable calculus; differentiation and integration; etc.
Simple probability & statistics	Mutually exclusive events; not mutually exclusive events; conditional probability; special discrete distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Geometric), etc.

	Level III (19 – 21 years)
Series and sequences	Summation; products; limits; interpolation; induction; recursivity; etc.
Euclidean Geometry	Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinates; axioms; theorems and use of theorems; intersecting lines; properties of circles, polygons, ellipses, cylinders, spheres; equations of surfaces; trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions; etc.
Calculus	Single variable and multivariable calculus; differentiation and integration; functions of functions; vector calculus, applications to physics and engineering; etc.
Probability & statistics	Mutually exclusive events; not mutually exclusive events; conditional probability; special discrete distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Geometric) and special continuous distributions (normal, Chi-squared); etc.
Vectors and Matrices	Vectors in 3-dimensions; dot product and cross product; matrix inverse; transpose; determinant; vector-matrix and matrix-matrix multiplication; applications to solving linear equations; etc.
Complex numbers	Multiplication; exponentiation; square root; Euler’s formula; complex plane; vector interpretations; conjugation; inverse; applications in physics and engineering; etc.
Differential equations	Ordinary differential equations; first and second order; homogeneous and particular solutions; characteristic frequencies; basis vectors of solution space; connection to difference equations; applications in physics and engineering; etc.

Some Reference Materials For the Math Olympiad

By popular demand, we include here a set of sample questions, some of which are taken from the previous Olympiad.
CSO Math Olympiad Sample Questions V1
We will update this document annually. The sample questions do not cover all the topic areas. Please also use the list of free online reference resources below to assist you in preparing for the Math Olympiad:

CTS Mathematics book and related videos at http://uwitube.com
Archive at https://archive.org
MIT Open Courseware at https://ocw.mit.edu
Libre Texts at https://libretexts.org
OpenStax at https://openstax.org
Euclid Examination past papers at https://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests.html
Paul’s Online Notes at https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu
Khan Academy at https://www.khanacademy.org/
The Student Hub at https://www.youtube.com/c/KerwinSpringer

Video clips from the 2023 CSO Math Olympiad can be found in the 2023 press release.

2.2 Guidelines for the Computer Coding Olympiad

The 2024 CSF Computer Coding Olympiad consists of a problem-solving journey where individuals or teams with a maximum of 4 persons per team compete to create the best comprehensive coding solution to a challenge of the region. It culminates in an event in which competitors showcase the coding solution they designed, built, and tested as well as its value in response to a regional challenge.

The 2024 Computer Coding Olympiad is focused on the development of tools such as Apps, websites, games, or data analysis that facilitate the solving of any of the challenges below which affect Caribbean communities:

Food security and food safety
Non-communicable diseases
Energy production and consumption
Transportation (inter- and intra-country)
Safe after-hours transport for women and youth in the region
Money movement, fintech, financial education, investing, etc.
Geohazards and climate change (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, and sea-level rise, etc.)
Other (You may choose another challenge, but you must make it clear how it helps the region. Entries that show little or no significance to a challenge of the region will not be competitive)

Clearly, full solutions to these thorny challenges are not expected. However, your team must clearly explain how the problem you are solving fits into, or is relevant to, or facilitates a solution to a challenge of the region. The judges will be looking for innovation and thinking outside the box, and of course, working code.

The Level I competition can be focused on Scratch although other programming languages such as Python may also be used. For the Level II competition, Python is preferred, but other high-level languages will be accepted (not Scratch). The Level III competition is open to any high-level software solution to the challenges posed (not Scratch).

At the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad finals on 18 January 2024, teams must present their coding project from the same room using two computers, or a computer and a document camera. As specified on the Application Form, your team must submit the following by the application deadline (27 December 2023) for assessment by the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad Review Committee:

A description of your solution to your chosen challenge
A user-friendly link to the file(s) for your code and website/ game/ video/ App, as appropriate, to show your code in operation. Please ensure that the link(s) to your code can be easily opened by commonly available software.

We strongly recommend that you use a repository such as Google Drive or Dropbox to store your code and website/ game/ video/ App, as appropriate, and then include that link in the Application Form. To make sure we get it, please also share the link with applications.csf@gmail.com and with csfhdq@gmail.com. Your link(s) will be shared only with the Judges and the CSF Coding Olympiad Review Committee.

A WORD OF CAUTION: The judges will be very busy as we anticipate a large number of applications. The judges will not download and install specialty software to run your apps, website or games. It is up to you to take the time to repackage your submission so it does not annoy the judges and cause them to skip your application. In other words, please make your submission as user friendly as possible (No more than 3 clicks are recommended).

Your submitted application will be examined by the Judges during the Preliminary Review Period (between 28 December 2023 and 07 January 2024). You will not be meeting with the judges during the Preliminary Review Perod, so a Powerpoint presentation is not required in your application. Please note, however, that a Powerpoint presentaion is required at the finals.

Teams selected by the judges will be so informed, and they may continue working on their code up to the day of the competition. The teams selected to compete in the finals must attend a mandatory communication systems check (see CSO Agenda) to make sure that their systems are working correctly so that no team is disadvantaged during the competition(s). For these communications systems checks, teams must be in the same room at the same time similar to how they will need to be during the competition.

Teams and individuals invited to the finals must submit by 13 January 2024 (5 days before the Coding Olympiad):

An update of your code
A revised written description of your project
A video of your team presenting your project. This video may have the same content as your Powerpoint presentation and could include a demonstration of your code in action. This video will be played on the competition day if your team loses internet connectivity and is unable to present live.
At least one photo of your team presenting your project (preferably with your code/ App/ website visible in the background) for advertising purposes.

At the finals, each team gives a Powerpoint presentation describing their project that also includes their software solution to their chosen challenge in the Region, its benefits to the region, problems they encountered and how they were resolved, etc., or
shows a pre-recorded, updated video of their presentation – (5 min)
(2) Demonstrates their software in operation (with stills or video) – (5 min)
(3) Engages in Q&A with judges (5 min)

As a precaution, it is recommended that the finalists send a copy of your powerpoint presentation by 11:59 pm on the night before their presentation to applications.csf@gmail.com.

Video clips from the 2023 CSO Computer Coding Olympiad can be found in the 2023 press release.

The judging criteria for the Computer Coding Olympiad include:

How relevant is the project to addressing a challenge of the region (technological, social, geographical, political, etc)?
How compelling is the project description/presentation (approach to the challenge, anticipated results/impact, etc.)?
Technical merit and innovativeness/originality of project?
Potential marketability of solution (entrepreneurial strength)
How well were the questions answered by the team? (finals only)
Accessibility of links (preliminary rounds only)?

2.3 Guidelines for the Robotics Olympiad

At the 2024 CSF Robotics Olympiad, teams of a maximum of 4 persons or individuals at the three age levels will showcase their custom robot builds via a live presentation and a demonstration of their robot. It should be noted that the CSF will NOT be providing robots or robotic kits to competitors due to the small operating budget of the organization.

Level I robots may be built entirely from kits and the total cost of the parts must be less than US$ 300 (see note below). Although robots from this level can be built entirely from kits, we encourage innovation in the final design of the robot. Level I robot designs must be approved in advance by the CSF Robotics Olympiad Review Committee.
Level II robots will not be allowed to have more than 50% of the components built from snap-together kits, and the total cost of all purchased parts (from kits and otherwise) must be less than US$ 500 (see note below). Level II robot designs must be approved in advance by the CSF Robotics Olympiad Review Committee.
Level III robots are not allowed to be built from snap-together kits, and the total cost of all purchased parts must be less than US$ 700 (see note below). Level III robot designs must be approved in advance by the CSF Robotics Olympiad Review Committee.
On the application form each team entering the CSF Robotics Olympiad must provide the estimated cost of their robot parts. This information is to be submitted in list form using this format: Item Number, Name of Part, Vendor, Cost, Purchaser. Please note the above maximum cost limits must be based on vendor catalog prices for new parts. However, the cost of batteries, as well as any miscellaneous parts and accessories costing less than US$ 5.00 each do not count in the total cost limit, and need not be reported in your itemized budget.

Robots that attempt to solve a challenge of the region should be submitted under the CSF Robotics Showcase, rather than under the CSF Computer Coding Games.

At the CSF Robotics Olympiad finals on 19 January 2024 (see CSO 2024 Agenda), teams must present their robotics project from the same room using two computers, or a computer and a document camera. As specified on the Application Form, your team must submit the following by the application deadline (27 December 2023) for assessment by the CSF Robotics Olympiad Review Committee:

A written description of your robot
A user-friendly link to a media (video) demonstration of your robot.
A user-friendly link to close-up photos of your robot at the time of submission

Teams selected by the judges will be so informed, and they may continue working on their robot up to the day of the competition. The teams selected to compete in the finals must attend a mandatory communication systems check (see CSO Agenda) to make sure that their systems are working correctly so that teams are not disadvantaged during the competition(s). For these communications systems checks, teams must be in the same room at the same time similar to how they will need to be during the competition.

For teams and individuals invited to the finals, you must submit by 13 January 2024 (6 days before the Robotics Olympiad):

An updated video of your robot demonstration
A revised written description of your project
A video of your team presenting your project. This video may have the same content as your Powerpoint presentation and may include a demonstration of your robot in action. This video will be played on the competition day if your team loses internet connectivity, is unable to present live or there is an unforeseen problem demonstrating your robot live.
At least one photo of your team working on your project (for advertising purposes)

At the finals, each team gives a Powerpoint presentation describing their robot design approach, what it does, problems encountered and how they were resolved, etc., or shows a pre-recorded updated video of their presentation – (5 min)
(2) Demonstrates their robot in operation – (5 min)
(3) Engages in Q&A with judges – (5 min)

As a precaution, it is recommended that the finalists send a copy of your powerpoint presentation by 11:59 pm on the night before their presentation to applications.csf@gmail.com.

Video clips from the 2023 CSO Robotics Olympiad can be found in the 2023 press release.

The Judging criteria for the Robotics Olympiad include:

How compelling is the description/presentation of what the robot is and does?
Originality and inventiveness of robot engineering/design?
Performance/cost ratio for the robot?
Potential marketability and potential for wider application of the robot (entrepreneurial strength)?
How well were the questions answered by the team? (finals only)
Accessibility of links (preliminary rounds only)

3.0 2024 APPLICATION FORM

Instructions for filling out the Application Form

Before you begin to fill out the Application Form, please be sure to read the above Guidelines in their entirety. It is also very important that you read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below, as the FAQs contain additional important information not covered in the general Guidelines above, and it is very likely that any questions you have are already answered there.

The participant application period closes on 27 December 2023 at 11:59pm (AST). To participate in any of the CSO events, you MUST fill out the online Google APPLICATION FORM. To do this, you must have a Google email account.

The Application Form consists of 3 main sections:
- Section 1: Biographic Information
- Section 2: Caribbean STEM Olympiad Events (CSF Math Olympiad, CSF Computer Coding Olympiad and CSF Robotics Olympiad).
- Section 3: Declaration Information. Please note that if you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian will need to give their consent for you to participate in any of the 2024 CSO events. We reserve the right to check with your parent or guardian.
The CSO is open to citizens of CARICOM and CARICOM-Associate countries (not observer countries) who meet one of the age requirements. The CSO is also open to residents who have been living in a CARICOM or CARICOM Associate country for the last 4 consecutive years. Eligible contestants are persons in the 12 to 21 age range. As part of Section 1: Biographic Information of the Application Form, a photo of yourself and a photo of the biographic side/page of your identification card, passport or birth certificate, and if necessary a photo of proof of residency.

Please make sure the content in your attachments is upright and legible. Attachments with the content upside down on the page will annoy most reviewers.

Make sure your full name (i.e., first and last names) appears on all supplementary documents/attachments you submit to us. Also, please name your attachments to reflect their contents. We suggest you name your attachments using the following format “CSO-2024-LastName, FirstName-DocumentName.pdf”. Attachments with file names such as “scan 001” could cause your attachment to be misfiled. If this happens, your application will be deemed incomplete. Further clarity in this regard can be found on the Application Form.

Should you encounter challenges filling out the Application Form, for assistance you should email applications.csf@gmail.com with “CSO Application Assistance” in the subect line of your e-mail.

Once you submit your Application Form, you will receive an email from Google Forms which includes your responses to the Application Form questions. Please review your answers. If you have made an error on your form, you can use the “Edit response” button in the email to make changes to your Application Form up to or before the application deadline. Please be sure to edit your responses to the form using the same email address you used in your initial submission of the Application Form.

Incomplete or late applications will be rejected.

4.0 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In order to participate in the Math Olympiad, do you have to have citizenship for the country you would like to compete for? Or can you have just lived there for a number of years?

In the Caribbean STEM Olympiads (CSO), we do not think of your participation as competing for a country. The CSO is open to citizens of CARICOM and CARICOM-Associate countries (not observer countries) who meet one of the age requirements. The CSO is also open to residents who have been living in a CARICOM or CARICOM Associate country for the last 4 consecutive years. In either case you must submit proof (see the Application Form section of the website).

How do I enter the Caribbean STEM Olympiad competitions?

Please fill out the online APPLICATION FORM. If you encounter any problems filling out the form, please email us at applications.csf@gmail.com.

Will the CSF be providing robots or robotic kits to competitors

No. The operating budget of the CSF is too small to provide such assistance.

The Application Form is over 35 pages, will I need to fill out all sections of the Application Form?

Highly unlikely. The Application Form was designed in such a way that you will only need to fill out the sections relevant to you. However, everyone MUST fill out Section 1 (Biographic Information), at least one of the three competition event (Math Olympiad, Computer Coding Olympiad or Robotics Olympiad) of Section 2 (CSO Events), and Section 3 (Declaration Information). There are ‘Checkpoints’ built into the form to help guide you.

I am representing a school/institution. Does the school/institution need to submit anything?

To be considered as officially representing a school/institution, the CSF must receive an email from the STEM teacher/coach or appropriate administrator indicating the institution’s approval and support. The email must be sent to applications.csf@gmail.com by 27 December 2023 with the subject line “School/Institution Endorsement”. The CSF reserves the right to confirm support of the school/institution.

Why should I participate in the Olympiads?

It can be fun. It gives you regional recognition for your academic accomplishment. It looks good on your resume if you are a finalist – this could enhance your university applications and may distinguish you from others in a job application.

Can students compete in age levels above the level in which their age falls?

Yes. Applicants may participate in the level immediately above that associated with their age range.

When is the application deadline?

The complete Application Form must be submitted by 27 December 2023 (see the ‘Application Form’ section of the website).

Are high school students the only ones that will participate in the Olympiads?

No. Anyone or any team who meets the age and citizen requirements can enter.

Is it possible to compete in multiple levels for the same event?

Yes. Participants may enter a maximum of two levels of competition of the same event. More specifically, applicants may participate in the level immediately above that associated with their age range in the same event. Applicants are not allowed to participate in the same level of an event more than once. For example, if you are 13 years old, you are eligible to compete at two age levels (Level I and Level II). If competing in multiple levels of the Coding Olympiad or Robotics Olympiad, your projects must be different for each level.

Where will the Olympiads be held?

All of the CSO Events will be held virtually (see the CSO Agenda for the Zoom Links).

Is there a registration fee for the events?

No. There is no registration fee for the Caribbean STEM Olympiads.

I think we made an error on my form, can I go back and edit?

Once you submit your Application Form, you will receive an email from Google Forms which includes your responses to the Application Form questions. Please review your answers. If you have made an error on your form, you can use the “Edit response” button in the email to make changes to your Application Form up to or before the application deadline.

Why does the CSF need a picture of the applicant, identification card or birth certificate ?

Many of our sponsors want to know how we spend their funding. For example, some often want to know the age groups, the percentage of females, the countries of the participants, and many want photographs of the participants in action to put in their newsletters or in their annual reports to their stockholders. As you can imagine, the CSF is required to provide such information (in aggregate) in its final narrative and financial reports to some of the sponsors. Having a picture of the applicant before the competition is also a method of verifying that the applicant is the same person appearing in the competition. Please be assured that the CSF is respectful of and safeguards the personal information of all individuals participating in its programs, as reflected in its Participant Privacy Pledge.

Some secondary students are 11 years old. Will they be allowed to participate?

To be eligible for participation in the 2023 Caribbean STEM Olympiads, all persons must be 12 years or older on or before the application deadline.

What if the majority of my teammates are older than 16 but there is one member younger than 16. Would that younger member still be able to compete in the same level as us?

Yes. Applicants may participate in the level immediately above that associated with their age range.

Can there be more than one team from a school? What if the school has a team and the math club has a separate team?

Let us assume the Math Club is a school initiative. Then the CSF will not treat the Math Club as an entity that is separate and distinct from the school. For the Math Olympiads, the school is allowed to choose three students in each of the 3 age levels who will represent the school. Some of these students can be from the Math Club.

Can a private academy, club or association enter the competition, and if so, how many students can enter?

Yes. We would treat the academy, club or association in the same way we treat a school. Schools may “send” or assist teams to enter the CSO. If a school was able to “send” students to all possible events, the maximum number of students from that school who could apply would be 33. Because of the elimination rounds, the number would likely be smaller by the time they reach the finals. Also, the medal certificates and prizes are intended to be personal property of the students (not the school).

What if an institution operates in several countries?

The CSF will treat the activities of a multinational institution in each country it operates in as separate entities. As an example, the arm of the institution in Trinidad and Tobago will be allowed to enter one team per level per event, in accordance with the guidelines for entries representing institutions. The arm of the same institution operating in Barbados may also be allowed to enter one team per event per level, and so on. Please note, while we encourage Caribbean unity, for 2024 Caribbean citizens from different countries cannot be on the same team unless they permanently reside in the country associated with the team.

Are there 3 persons per team or 4 persons per team?

CSF Math Olympiad teams can have up to 3 persons per team, and CSF Computer Coding Olympiad and CSF Robotics Olympiad can have up to 4 persons per team.

What is the maximum number of students who can enter from a school?

A school is not allowed to enter more than 1 team per event per age range. With this restriction, a school can enter only up to a maximum of 33 different students as follows into the 2024 CSO. That is: for the CSF Math Olympiad up to 3 different students in each of the three different age levels, for the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad up to 4 different students in each of the three different age levels, and for the CSF Robotics Olympiad up to 4 different students in each of the three different age levels.

Is it possible for an individual or a team to participate in more than one event?

Yes. An individual or team can participate in all 3 events within their age range. They may also enter a maximum of two levels of competition of the same event. More specifically, applicants may participate in the level immediately above that associated with their age range in the same event. Applicants are not allowed to participate in the same level of an event more than once.

If I am on a team, and find that I am unable to attend the competition on the day of the finals, can someone substitute for me?

How are the judges selected?

The judges for the competitions will be experts in their fields who have been carefully screened so they have no conflict of interest. They will be selected from the private sector, universities and the government sector, and the audience in some special cases. Persons interested in serving as judges should send an e-mail to warde.csf@gmail.com specifying the event on which they are offering to serve as judge, along with a recent copy of their CV as an attachment. If the CV does not have much detail, a separate paragraph explaining their experience or qualifications would be helpful.

Will the finals of the various events be televised/streamed?

Yes. See the CSO Agenda for more information and Zoom links to the finals.

For the question on the Application Form which asks for a team name, what would an individual applicant do? Do they simply have to put their own name?

For the team name an individual can either use their name or make up a name to be used during the competition.

I know that the website mentions we need good connectivity for competitions but in the case of an unforeseen outage, would there be provision for a team to have a make up session afterwards?

No make up sessions are possible. To solve this challenge, all teams in the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad and CSF Robotics Olympiad MUST submit updated copies of their robotics video or game, App, or Website, (along with the other required documents) as appropriate, to the CSF (applications.csf@gmail.com) before the finals. (See the ‘Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Computer Coding Olympiad’ and the ‘Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Robotics Olympiad’ sections of the website). This way if a team loses power or Internet connectivity, we can run their video and show their descriptions so they will not be at a disadvantage. If connectivity is lost during the CSF Math Olympiad, a grace period of 5 minutes is allowed after which rejoining the competition is at the judges’ discretion.

Will there be any sample questions released to give the students an idea of the type of questions they will be asked in their level in the Math Olympiad?

Video clips from the 2023 CSO can be found in the 2023 press release. You can be guided by the CSEC and CAPE syllabi as they apply to the three different age levels. Also, you may want to use the list of free on-line resources (books and websites) highlighted in the ‘Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Math Olympiad’ section of the website.

Will there be a meeting/opportunity where we can see some of the robots or coding projects from past competitions?

Video clips from the 2023 CSO can be found in the 2023 press release.

Where can I find the link for my teacher or coach to fill out?

Even though the name and e-mail address of your teacher or coach may appear on the Application Form, your teacher or coach does NOT fill out any forms in the Caribbean STEM Olympiads application process.

For the CSF Math Olympiad, would there be a certain number of questions a team can answer or will it finish when the board is cleared?

There is a set number of questions a team will be required to answer with a different amount of time allotted per question depending on the complexity. A guide will be provided to all Math Olympiad applicants on how to use the software, the number of devices required and how to use them, the judging criteria, and the steps as to how the Math Olympiad event will unfold.

How is the scoring done in the Math Olympiad when there are 3 people on a team?

During the Math Olympiad, anyone on the team can answer the question posed. The credit always goes to the team and is not assigned to any particular individual.

Will I need to bring my calculator to the Math Olympiad?

No. The CSO questions are designed such that calculators will not be needed. Numerical answers do not have to be reduced to their simplest form. The questions are designed to test your critical and analytical skills, and the judges can give substantial partial credit for incorrect final answers that have the correct logical and analytical approach. Individuals or teams caught using calculators or the calculator software on their computers will be disqualified from the competition.

Can you kindly tell us the difference between scratch coding vs no scratch?

Scratch is a user-friendly software that is easy to learn and that the Level I computer coding students can use. “No Scratch” in this context means that scratch is not allowed for use by Levels II and III students.

I know that we need to submit write ups for our Coding Games by the 27 December deadline, but do we need to also make a demo game by then as well?

By 27 December 2023, applicants will need to submit:

A description of your solution to your chosen challenge
A user-friendly link to the file(s) for your code and website/ game/ video/ App as appropriate. Please ensure that the link(s) to your code can be easily opened by commonly available software.

For the Coding Olympiad and the Robotics Olympiad, when I’m submitting my application, where should I send my code and my videos?

We strongly recommend that you use a repository such as Google Drive or Dropbox to store your video demonstration and photos, and then include that link in the Application Form. To make sure we get it, please also share the link with applications.csf@gmail.com and with csfhdq@gmail.com. Your link(s) will be shared only with the judges.
A WORD OF CAUTION: The judges will be very busy as we anticipate a large number of applications. The judges will not download and install specialty software to run your apps, website or games. It is up to you to take the time to repackage your submission so it does not annoy the judges and cause them to skip your application. In other words, please make your submission as user friendly as possible (No more than 3 clicks are recommended).

Can the CSF Computer Coding Olynpiad emphasizes solutions that already exist?

Keep in mind that the judges are looking for innovative and novel solutions to any one of the challenges posed. This means that if your solution is incremental over what has already been done, it may not be very persuasive or competitive.

Is a game spreading awareness about a certain topic considered an enabling component to a solution of a challenge of the region?

Yes.

For Level III CSF Computer Coding Olympiad, are the software solutions required to be in Python or can any programming language be used?

Level III Computer Programming Games can use any high-level programming language. Scratch, for example, is not allowed in Level III (or Level II).

Can students submit any kind of python application (e.g., a game with pyGame, Web application with a Python web framework, or a data science notebook with an analysis)?

Yes, but also keep in mind that a large component of your score is based on the effectiveness of your proposed project in enabling a solution to a challenge of the region.

Are there any restrictions to the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad (e.g., regarding graphics, complexity/simplicity, and are abstract concepts allowed, etc..?

The only restrictions are that Scratch is not the software of choice for Levels II and III. However, keep in mind that a large component of your score is based on the effectiveness of your proposed project in enabling a solution to a challenge of the region. So the practicality of your solution will weigh heavily in how the judges see the merits of your solution.

If I create something that is innovative, must I share the rights to own, use and commercialise with the competition organisers?

For your entries to the Computer Coding Olympiad, the CSF will not take any rights in your invention. If you feel strongly that you have a proprietary and/or confidential solution, you must choose whether or not you want to enter your solution into the competition as you will end up disclosing your solution. The CSF has no means of protecting your information once you share it in the competition. The downside of not presenting is that you may miss an opportunity for funding your project if an interested prospective investor is in the audience.

Do you want to see our robot fully finished when submitting on the 27th or just a startup of our robot building?

No, your robot does not have to be finished at the time of the application deadline. We just want to see how far along you are. If you are not very far along, you may not be admitted to the competition. So show us as much as you can so there is no misunderstanding (see the Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Robotics Olympiad for details).

Does the CSF want to see the type of coding the robot will be using in the project description by 27 December 2023?

For the robotics showcase, the CSF is less interested in the code the robot employs and more interested in the performance of the robot. So, by the 27 December 2023 deadline, what the CSF is really looking for is a video of your robot doing something, even something preliminary. Your submission on 27 December 2023 should be aimed at convincing the CSF that you have started and could have a reasonably good performing robot by the time the Olympiads start on 19 January 2024 (see the Guidelines for the 2024 CSF Robotics Olympiad for details).

For the Level III robotics Olympiad, would it be possible to build the robot from parts taken from a starter kit of parts such as the REV Robotics starter kits?

Kits that consist of a bunch of parts that are not of the snap-to-build type are allowed in Level III. As an example, the REV-45-1883 is not a snap together kit, falls under the US$ 700 cost limit, and thus is allowed for use in Level III. It is best to check with the CSF in advance to make sure that parts you purchase for your robot are allowed. The judges will be looking for innovation, so if a team simply builds something that is a standard recommendation with such a kit, it may not be competitive enough.

Do I need to include the cost of parts that are 3-D printed?

No. Parts that have been 3-D printed do not count to the total cost limit for the robots and do not need to be listed in the parts list.

Do the shipping costs for parts for my robot need to be included?

No. Shipping costs do not need to be included in the parts list nor in the total cost of the robot.

Do the challenges of the region for the Coding Olympiad also apply to robotics?

No. However, robots that attempt to solve a challenge of the region should be submitted under the CSF Robotics Showcase, rather than under the CSF Computer Coding Games.

What day would the elimination rounds of the Computer Coding Olympiad be? Because there may be issues with having all team members in the same room very early in January.

Preliminary rounds for the CSF Math Olympiad will be held between 2 – 7 January 2024. A schedule for the preliminary rounds will be sent to all qualifying teams to establish team availability. The review period for the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad and the CSF Robotics Olympiad will be between 28 December 2023 and 4 January 2024 (see CSO Agenda). During the preliminary rounds of the CSF Math Olympiad, the Mandatory Communication Systems Checks for the CSF Computer Coding Olympiad and the CSF Robotics Olympiad as well as during all final competitions for the CSO events, team members MUST be in the same room at the same time.

Are pre-recorded videos required for coding? If so, should it be of the actual game/ app to be demonstrated?

In the application form there are separate sections for persons to submit their code and what the code should control/produce. It is recommended to use whichever media (still images or videos etc.) will give you the most convincing submission.

What arrangements are being made to accommodate persons with disabilities?

Persons with speaking and hearing disabilities who may need the help of interpreters/assistants will require permission in advance to use such assistants. The request should be submitted in writing to the CSF (email to applications.csf@gmail.com) along with the CV or biography of the interpreter/assistant. Interpreters/assistants with backgrounds in disciplines closely related to the competition event will not be approved.

5.0 CONTACT US

For more information on the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) and questions about the Caribbean STEM Olympiads (CSO), you can reach us at:
● Telephone: 1(246)417-7493
● Email: applications.csf@gmail.com
● Website: http://caribbeanscience.org/

You can also find us on social media at:
■ Instagram: @caribbeanscience
■ Facebook: @CaribbeanScienceFoundation