Rube Goldberg, Inc. • Six Barry Lane • Westport, CT 06880 • 203-227-0818 • Fax: 203-557-4625

www.RubeGoldberg.com • Email: Rube@rubegoldberg.com

MACHINE CONTEST®

HOST A CONTEST COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL CONTEST

AUGUST 2014

Artwork Copyright © Rube Goldberg Inc. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc.

MISSION

Our goal, with all levels of competition of the RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE CONTESTS, is to encourage critical thinking and problem solving in a non-traditional learning environment. And to have fun in the process.

Students from middle school through college, can compete in a RGMC. Our contests are STEM and STEAM friendly. Students who participate in our contests not only employ physics and engineering, but humor and story-telling, to create their RGM’s.

Rube Goldberg (1884-1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, who is best known for his wacky inventions. His cartoons appeared daily for approximately 50 years and his popularity made him cultural touchstone.

“Rube Goldberg” is an adjective, invoked daily – in the news, in print, on the web – to describe an overly complicated effort to accomplish a singular goal. Recent examples include: the mission to Mars, cleaning up the BP oil spill in the Gulf, and the election process.

Rube’s influence on some of the great creative minds of the last century, especially in film, is significant. Both Steven Spielberg and Tim Burton have been inspired by his work and employ Rube Goldberg sequences in many of their films.

“The Reuben” – cartooning’s highest award, presented annually, is named after Rube Goldberg.

A Rube Goldberg machine is an overly complex contraption, designed to accomplish a simple task. However, the best RGM’s emulate their namesake – using a variety of every-day items in a whimsical way to create a series of chain-reaction steps to accomplish the simple task set forth for the annual competition. Most importantly, the best RGM’s make us laugh. (Note: if you’re not familiar with Rube Goldberg’s work, go to the “Gallery” and read on!)

Rube Goldberg MachineTM, International Online Rube Goldberg Machine Contest - Ages 11-14TM, Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® and the Rube Goldberg Challenge® are all trademarks of RGI.

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There is no fee to RGI to become a Host. There are responsibilites in Hosting. The Host should download the Rulebook for 2014 from our web site, available in August. The Host will have sole responsibility for organizing and running their competition.

1. Communication

With registered teams: • let them know you have received their registration form • keep them informed of any changes: snow date, contest cancellation, etc With RGI: • pre-contest concerning any changes: snow date, contest cancellation, etc • post contest: as soon as your contest completes, email the following information to rube@rubegoldberg.com for inclusion on our web site and in our newsletter: 1. Name of Host Site 2. Name of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams and name and city/state of school they represent 3. jpgs of the above - identify each team.

2. Choose a Competition Site Chairman

Each Host must have a contest chairman. The Host Chairman will be the contact person for RGI and for any teams that have questions about the site. The Host will determine how many teams they will allow. The Chairman should download, and encourage all teams to download, the 2014 Rule Book from http://rubegoldberg.com/?page=contest_rules

3. Choose a Competition Site

The site should be a large open room or area that accommodates teams, machines, judges, audience and refreshments. Suggested sites for competitions: gymnasiums, ballrooms, science or children’s museums, convention halls, Armories, etc.

Suggested Guidelines: • Host will provide a table (approximately 27” high) or elevated palate for each team to accommodate the presentation of their machine. • Seating Area: Based on the maximum attendees allowed by the facility.

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HOST RESPONSIBILITIES

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4. Pick a Date for your Competition

• Local / Regional Competitions must be held before the National Competition for their level. National Competition dates and venues are listed on our web site in the Contest Schedule. rubegoldberg.com/?page=contest_schedule

5. Register as a Host with RGI

• Email the following information to RGI at: rube@rubegoldberg.com: - host name and full address - venue location name and full address - how many teams will be allowed - date, day and time of competition - registration deadline date (Host picks the registration deadline) - contact name, email and phone number of the Host Chairman All competition information will be posted on www.rubegoldberg.com in the Contest Schedule. rubegoldberg.com/?page=contest_schedule

TEAMS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER FOR YOUR CONTEST UNTIL THIS INFORMATION IS POSTED ON OUR SITE.

6. Get the Word Out About Your Competition

Publicity is the key to building a long term successful program. Once you register as a Host, RGI will email the following to you for marketing/advertising purposes: - The Rube Goldberg logo - Official Poster/Flyer-delivered by email as a pdf - 2 Rube Goldberg images of your choice. All available images can be found in the Gallery on our web site. rubegoldberg.com/?page=gallery Any materials developed by the Host should be forwarded to RGI for approval prior to distribution.

• Target schools in the surrounding towns through mailings, newspapers announcements and press releases.

• Local Boards of Education, Fraternities, Sororities and Associations are good resources for entrants.

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MACHINE CONTEST®

7. Line up Judges for Your Competition

• Host site will select at least 3 judges with a maximum of 12.

• Suggested individuals for judges include: Teachers/Educators, Engineers of various disciplines, Town Officials and Sponsors, Architects, Artists. Plan for alternate judges to avoid last minute problems.

• Judges will use the Official Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Judging Form. This form is included in this Official Rule Books and may also be downloaded from our web site.

There is a copy of the 2014 Judging Form included in this handbook.

8. Funding Your Competition

• Suggested sponsors: Manufacturing and Engineering companies, local businesses, local colleges, educational supply stores, etc.

• Use direct mail and email to professional societies for sponsorship.

• Expenses may include: - Facility Fees - Postage, printing and mailing of recruitment materials - Refreshments at competition - Awards / Prizes - Printing of Program Agenda

9. Hold Your Competition

One first place winning team from each Local / Regional Competition will go on to compete in the National Competition.

National Competition dates and venues are listed on our web site on the Contest Schedule rubegoldberg.com/?page=contest_schedule.

No competition will be held for any location with fewer than 3 entrants. Should a location have fewer than 3 teams, the Host should inform RGI and the location will be cancelled for that year. Teams competing from the same school are considered individual entrants.

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10. Awards

Host sites give recognition/awards to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. Additional awards are allowed. Examples are:

Best Step Funniest Step Best Design Most Rube Like Machine Best Presentation Risk Award Peer Award Best Construction Most Creative Use of Materials

Awards, trophies or certificates are provided by the host location. The RGI logo and the contest badge art work may be used by any host to create items. Any item in the Rube Store will be available to registered Hosts, at 30% discount off the Suggested Retail price. Our zazzle.com store has many items that can be personalized with school logos, team names, etc. Go to zazzle.com/rubegoldberg. If you need assistance, please email us at rube@rubegoldberg.com.

11. After Your Competition

Please email the following info to rube@rubegoldberg.com for inclusion on our web site and in our newsletter:

1. Name of Host Site 2. Name of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams and name and city/state of school they represent 3. jpgs of the above - identify each team. 4. If you have a video link we can embed, please send that also.

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JUDGING INSTRUCTIONS - COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL

n GENERAL IMPRESSIONS (45 POINTS)

Step List (0 to 5 points) How clear, concise, and creative is the written explanation of the machine?

Theme or Story (0 to 10 points) How well is a recognizable theme or story integrated into the machine?

Laugh Barometer (0 to 10 points) Similar to Rube Goldberg’s cartoons, how funny is the machine?

Complexity (0 to 10 points) How well does the machine complete the task in a manner more complex than necessary?

Team Chemistry (0 to 5 points) How well does the team communicate and work together?

Everyday Items (0 to 5 points) How well does the machine use recognizable everyday items in a creative, unique, funny way?

n RUN RELATED (55 POINTS)

Verbal Presentation (0 to 5 points) How clear, concise, creative, and charismatic is the verbal presentation of the machine? Time (up to 2 minutes: no penalty; 2:00 – 2:15 minutes: -5 points; over 2:15 minutes: -10 points)

Rube Goldberg Style Steps (0 to 10 points) How well are steps designed to use everyday items in creative, unique, and unusual ways? How much variety in mechanisms, energy forms, materials, and physical principles exists in the steps?

Machine Flow (0 to 10 points) How easy is it to see and follow the sequence from the first through the last step?

Teams may only void their first or second run before the task is complete. Teams may not

void a run after the machine has completed the task. If a team does not void either of their

first two runs, they may choose to do a third run, but that run will not be judged. A void

must be communicated by one designated team member before the task is complete.

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MACHINE CONTEST®

HOST A CONTEST

Scoring and Detail

TEAM NAMESStep List (0-5)

Theme/Story (0-10)

Laugh Barometer (0-10)

Complexity (0-10)

Team Chemistry (0-10)

Everyday Items (0-5)

Verbal Presentation (0-5) Time: (up to 2 minutes: no penalty; 2:00 – 2:15 minutes: -5 points; over 2:15 minutes: -10 points)

Rube Goldberg Style Steps (0-10)

Machine Flow (0-10)

Sub Total

RUN 1 Task Completed (0-15)Time: (up to 2 minutes: no penalty; 2:00 – 2:15 minutes: -5 points; 2:15 - 2:30 minutes: -10 points

over 2:30: -15)

Human Interventions (-5 points each)

Objects Leaving Machine (-5 points each)

Sub Total Run 1

RUN 2 Task Completed (0-15)Time: (up to 2 minutes: no penalty; 2:00 – 2:15 minutes: -5 points; 2:15 - 2:30 minutes: -10 points

over 2:30: -15)

Human Interventions (-5 points each)

Objects Leaving Machine (-5 points each)

Sub Total Run 2

RUN 3 Task Completed (0-15)Time: (up to 2 minutes: no penalty; 2:00 – 2:15 minutes: -5 points; 2:15 - 2:30 minutes: -10 points

over 2:30: -15)

Human Interventions (-5 points each)

Objects Leaving Machine (-5 points each)

Sub Total Run 3TOTAL - (Only 2 runs maybe counted. Please X out the voided Run.)

JUDGING FORM - RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE CONTEST FOR COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL

Full size Judging Form is available in the 2014 Rule Book.

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RUBE STORE AND zazzle.com

Rube Goldberg products are available in the Rube Store on our web site:

rubegoldberg.com/?page=store. RGI gives a 30% discount, off the Suggested Retail price,

to any host site using the items as awards.

Check out the wide selection of Rube Goldberg products on zazzle.com/rubegoldberg, where

you can create your own team T-shirt, sweatshirt or cap, and put your school logo or team

name!

Playing cards in plastic case.The Best Mousetrap

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Chief Operating Officer: Kathleen Felix rube@rubegoldberg.com Phone: 203-227-0818

Education Outreach Director: Shawn Jordan, Ph.D

CONTEST CONTACT INFORMATION

“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” – Thomas Edison

MACHINE CONTEST®

Rube Goldberg MachineTM, International Online Rube Goldberg Machine Contest - Ages 11-14TM, Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® and the Rube Goldberg Challenge® are all trademarks of RGI.