Disease Detectives and Science Crime Busters

[zorbak5044]

I did this event last year but i really sucked at them. any tips?

[rocketman1555]

practice, practice, practice

learn the math that is needed to solve the problems given, and study the topics in the rules, and the diseases and such that you think will appear in competition, find a coach or parent that is knowledgeable in these fields and ask them to tutor you

[gneissisnice]

Disease detectives is more of a data event, really. Know key terms, and how to read chi squares. I was kinda bad at the event, so i cant really give any better advice.

[dickyjones]

I haven't done 'disease' detectives since my freshman year, but we learned all of the basics of analytical epidemiology (formulas, definitions, and such) and then took a ton of tests. There's quite a few out there that you can find easily (I think some may be on soinc and tufts). Take all of these so that you start to know what judges are looking for in their answers and what to expect in competition.

[theoneandonly]

Check out the wiki: http://scioly.org/wiki/Disease_Detectives
and Karen Lancour's Disease Detectives Training Handout: http://www.soinc.org/events/diseasedet/ ... t_BC08.pdf

Also, I highly recommend that you read the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ every week and the CDC's Epidemiology EXCITE site: http://www.cdc.gov/excite/disease_detectives/index.htm

[Aia]

Disease Detectives is a rather difficult event in regards to finding resources. You should definitely know formulas, vocabulary, and diseases... but other than that, practice is the best way to prepare. There are loads of DD tests out there.

Also- if you can find epidemiology books at your local library, these can be helpful as well.

Good luck!

[zorbak5044]

thanks for the tips. ive never heard of chi squares (im only in 8th grade) and last year it was basically just two secnarios and what we should do. one was rabies and i forgot the other one. my bad

[dudeincolorado]

disease form what i know it's A LOT of math and some basic knowlege....

ummm for crime busters PRCATICE THE HECK OUT OF IT!!!!! by the time states came around i could id almost all the powders just by looking at them (i would still test them of cource) but it not impossible to do that like baking soda is oddly grity i still remeber that kind of stuff but in short practice practice!!

[sidney7777777]

are any of u doing s.o. for 2009??

[SidneyGrady]

i am !!! disease detctives is really hard, does anyone have any tips?