Nebraska Agricultural Biotechnology Career Development Activity Handbook and Rules (-)
Covering activity objectives, eligibility criteria, process arrangements, scoring standards, and resource systems, it provides biotechnology practice and competition guidance for first-year students.
Detail
Published
23/12/2025
Key Chapter Title List
- Activity Purpose
- Core Objectives
- Eligibility
- Recommended Attire
- Essential Supplies and Equipment
- Event Schedule
- Annual Theme
- Event Format
- Scoring Rules
- Tie-Breaking Mechanism
- Reference Materials
- Notes on Previous Exams
Document Introduction
This manual provides comprehensive guidance for the 2025-2029 Nebraska Agricultural Biotechnology Career Development Event (CDE). It aims to encourage 9th-12th grade students to explore the diversity of the biotechnology industry and master relevant foundational knowledge, skills, and workplace application abilities. Agricultural biotechnology holds significant importance in the animal, plant, food, and pharmaceutical industries. The related activities are highly aligned with multiple agricultural education courses, providing students with a platform that combines theory and practice.
The event sets clear core objectives, including team practice objectives (such as conducting research around the annual theme, designing genetic engineering and breeding plans, creating presentations, etc.), identification objectives (identifying equipment and tools in agricultural biotechnology systems), and testing objectives (mastering key biotechnology concepts and linking them to agricultural industry applications). Regarding eligibility, the top two teams from each school district can participate in the state-level competition, with a maximum of 4 students per team.
The event process and format are scientifically planned. Participating teams are divided into two groups, rotating between team practice (60 minutes) and individual events (including a 30-minute written test and a 30-minute identification practice). The annual theme alternates between plants and animals, focusing on animals in odd-numbered years and plants in even-numbered years. The specific theme is announced before September 15th each year. The individual written test consists of 50 multiple-choice or true/false questions, focusing on the application of biological principles. The individual identification practice requires identifying 25 related specimens, models, or pictures within 30 minutes. The team practice involves researching a specific problem, presenting a solution via Google Slides, and answering related questions.
The scoring system is clear and transparent. The individual total score is 150 points (100 points for the written test, 50 points for identification practice). The team total score is 1000 points (sum of 4 members' individual scores: 600 points, plus team practice: 400 points). The tie-breaking mechanism sets clear priority orders for individuals and teams respectively.
The manual also provides abundant reference resources, including the "Journey of a Gene" website, CK12 biotechnology-related reading materials, Khan Academy courses, etc., offering strong support for student preparation. It also clarifies prohibited regulations during the event and post-event feedback mechanisms to ensure the competition's fairness, impartiality, and orderly conduct.