There are two sets of rules on this page.
- Rules for the Planet Science Whodunit (schools competition)
- Rules for the Super Sleuth Training Challenge (forensic science quiz competition)
Click on either link to go straight there.
Rules for Planet Science Whodunit
Please read the following carefully. As stated in item six, there is no obligation to enter the competition once a free kit has been received.
1.The competition is open to class teams from schools within England at Key Stages 2 and 3. The competition is suitable for pupils in years 4–9 working in classes or other school groups. Pupils will participate under the supervision of a class teacher or other adult educator.
2.Each school group or team will be represented by a teacher who will register by completing the details on the online registration form in the ‘Whodunit’ section of the www.planet-science.com website. Registrations can be made either in person or with assistance from the Planet Science Whodunit Helpdesk telephone service on free phone 0808 800 4000 (1–7pm, Monday to Saturday).
3.Each team will receive a unique password at the point of registration. This password is required for the successful submission of results. It is the responsibility of the teacher to record and enter the correct password for each set of results submitted.
4.Teachers are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the registration details. Any inaccuracy or irregularity in the registration details may disqualify a registration.
5.Teams compete by using the Evidence Kit distributed by the organisers for the purpose of the competition. The objective is to carry out laboratory tests on the Crime Scene Evidence materials contained in the kit, following instructions provided in the accompanying teacher’s handbook, to deduce the correct identity of the celebrity culprit. The scenes and incidents portrayed in the crime scenario are entirely fictitious and are not to be taken as representing fact.
6.Receipt of an Evidence Kit does not automatically entitle a team to be entered for the prize draw. The kit and entry to the competition is free of charge. There is no obligation to enter the competition if you have received a free Evidence Kit.
7.Each team wishing to enter the competition must (through its representative) submit the results from each experiment and their deduction as to the identity of the celebrity culprit online, following the instructions provided on the www.planet-science.com website. To be eligible for the prize draw, results must be submitted to the Planet Science website no later than 24th June 2003. Entries can be submitted online or with assistance from the Planet Science Whodunit Helpdesk telephone service on free phone 0808 800 4000 (1–7pm, Monday to Saturday).
8.The organisers will determine which teams have entered the correct results for all the experiments and named the correct celebrity culprit. Correct entries will be entered for the Planet Science Whodunit national prize draw taking place in July 2003 on a date to be announced on the www.planet-science.com website.
9.The decision of the organisers in relation to the application and effect of these rules is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
10.Winning teams will be required to submit their completed Forensic Analysis Reports and Chain of Custody (pages 35–40 in the Teacher’s Handbook provided) to Planet Science for verification of their results prior to receiving their prize. Planet Science reserves the right to award prizes only to those entrants who have completed the Forensic Analysis Reports and Chain of Custody.
11.Winning teams will be announced on the www.planet-science.com website and contacted by telephone, email and/or letter no later than 31st July 2003.
12.The decision on which particular prize is awarded to any winning team is at the discretion of the organisers. Prizes will not be exchanged and no substitutes or refunds will be offered.
13.Teacher representatives will be responsible for informing their head teachers and parents of participation by their pupils in the competition, and for making pupils, teachers and parents aware of these rules as appropriate.
14.The organisers will be entitled to maintain a record of the registration details for the purposes of contacting teachers in connection with the Planet Science Whodunit and for evaluation purposes.
15.All Evidence Kits supplied by Planet Science must be used under adult supervision. Planet Science has taken care to ensure all the materials contained in the Planet Science Whodunit Evidence Kit are non-hazardous. Planet Science does not accept liability for any misuse of the materials provided. Nothing in these rules serves to exclude liability which it would be unlawful to exclude.
16.Additional information about the Evidence Kit contents is provided with the Evidence Kits, on the www.planet-science.com website and on request from the Planet Science Whodunit Helpdesk telephone service (free phone 0808 800 4000, 1–7pm, Mon–Sat). Information for schools about the safe handling of chemicals can be found in ‘Be Safe!’ (3rd Edition, ASE 2001), or ‘Safe use of household and other chemicals’ (CLEAPSS Publication Code L5P). Material Safety Data Sheets are available on request from whodunit@planet-science.com.
17.Each Evidence Kit is designed for use by groups of up to 30 pupils. Planet Science reserves the right to monitor registrations and distribute kits to schools in a manner that is fair and representative of the school population in England.
18.The organisers are Planet Science of 11 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB, an initiative of NESTA Enterprises Limited (Company number 04029998) whose registered office is at 110 Upper Thames Street, London EC4R 3TW, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts of 110 Upper Thames Street, London EC4R 3TW.
Rules for the Super Sleuth Training Challenge
1.The competition is open to all residents of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, with the exception of officers or employees of the organisers, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts or of the Department for Education and Skills, their contractors or members of their respective families.
2.The quiz is published in the ‘Sleuth School’ section of the www.planet-science.com website. Entrants must register by following the instructions provided on the website and answers must be submitted on-line in the space provided on the website.
3.Entrants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the registration details. Any inaccuracy or irregularity in the registration details may automatically disqualify a registration.
4.Any evidence of cheating or irregularity in any entry automatically disqualifies the entrant from further participation in the quiz.
5.No more than one entry per person is permitted.
6.The organisers will determine which entrants have answered all the questions correctly and whether any entry is to be disqualified.
7.The decision of the organisers in relation to the application and effect of these rules is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
8.Entrants who have answered all the questions correctly will be entered for the Champion Super Sleuth National Prize Draw taking place in July 2003 on a date to be announced on the www.planet-science.com website.
9.Entrants who have won prizes in the draw will be announced on the www.planet-science.com website and by email and/or post by no later than July 31st 2003.
10.The organisers will be entitled to maintain a record of the registration details for the purposes of contacting entrants in connection with the Planet Science Whodunit. All records will be deleted on completion of the competition.
11.The organisers are Planet Science of Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB, an initiative of NESTA Enterprises Limited (Company number 04029998) whose registered office is at 110 Upper Thames Street London EC4R 3TW, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts of 110 Upper Thames Street London EC4R 3TW.