Sci-Team Discovery Simulation

Opening Scenario

Your lab team is conducting an experiment, which, if successful, holds the key to the treatment of a crippling disease, Moralysis, which afflicts millions worldwide, including many national and international political leaders. The National Institutes of Health have poured millions of dollars into all phases of this research. Your team has designed an experiment that will enable you to identify and replicate the structure and sequence of a compound which holds the key to the eventual treatment of Moralysis. Other labs have isolated the same compound and appear close to discovery. The first person(s) who unlocks this riddle will enjoy scientific acclaim, immense monetary rewards, and possibly even a Nobel Prize.

Instructions

On a table in an adjacent room is a model made of blocks. On each of the four sides of a block there is either a number, a minus sign, a plus sign, or an equal sign. The tops of the blocks are blacked out since only the sides of each block are marked.

Your lab(s) task is to contruct a duplicate of the model. The lab(s) with the shortest construction time will receive the garland. The duplicate must be inexact'; the shape must be the same as the model, and all colors, numbers, plus, minus, and equal signs must be in the correct positions.

The simulation activity is divided into three parts, Preparation, Construction, and Communication. You will have 90 minutes to complete the Preparation and Construction phases. Take as much of the 90 minutes time as you need to prepare for the construction of the model. Preparation time will not count against you in any way. During the construction phase, you will be timed according to how long it takes you to physically construct you model.

Lab Kit and Role Instructions. Each lab receives a kit containing:

• 0 26 blocks
• 0 one pair of dice
• 0 role envelopes

Open your lab kit and remove the blocks. Spread them out on the table so that no two blocks are touching. Verify that you have twenty-six (26) blocks. During the preparation phase, you may handle the blocks, but you may not mark them, remove them from the table, or place them so that they are touching any other blocks. You may make any lab notes you need or collaborate with any other teams, but you must keep your tables and materials (blocks, lab notes, notebooks) separate.

Role assignments

Each lab will contain four roles:

• a junior, unten-ured faculty member
• a post-doctorate fellow
• graduate student(s)
• lab technicians)
• lab observer(s)/Department Chair (not assigned)

To receive your role assignment, roll the dice. Keep track of your number. If you roll the same number as someone else, roll again until you have your own number. After everyone has rolled, distribute the role envelopes to the appropriate persons according to the directions written on the envelope (lowest, next lowest, and so on).

Each role envelope contains:

• a role description
• a name tag
• Sci-Spy Instructions Note: Do not oven the Sci-Spy Instructions until you receive instructions from the facilitator.

Remove your role description and name tag. On your name tag write your name, role, and team number (see example). Briefly familiarize yourself with your role description. During the course of the game, some lab members will receive communications pertaining to their role and will be expected to respond accordingly.

If you feel uncomfortable with your assigned role, you may switch with another lab member now. Once the spy instructions have been opened, no changes will be allowed. All roles must filled. If you decide to switch roles, notify your Observer/ Department Chair.

Preparation Phase

During the preparation phase, any lab member (one at a time only) may go to view the model but may look at it from one side of the table only. She may look at the model for as long as she wishes and may return as often as she wishes, but she is not permitted to see all the sides of the model in any one viewing. Each time a team member goes to view the model, regardless of how long he remains, fifteen seconds will be charged to your team's construction time. Team members may view the model at any time during the preparation phase. Members of collaborating labs are not allowed to view the model at the same time.

Construction

When your lab feels ready to construct the model, notify the timekeeper and begin constructing. Your construction time will automaticaly start if two blocks are deliberately placed so that they are touching. When you believe that your model is correct, notify the timekeeper, who will stop the timing and tally your construction time. When you have completed construction of your model, await your Communications phase instructions from your Observer/Chair.

 SCI-SPY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

In real life, the members of the scientific community do not always work for the same goals. Laboratories or departments might experience difficulties because of group friction, lack of trust, inability to get along with a supervisor, personal profit or fame, career advancement, competition between labs, etc.

There might be such a person(s) in your group. We will call that person a "Sci-Spy". It is possible that there might be more than one spy in your lab.

If you are a spy, you are to do everything in your power to hinder the efforts of your lab, without letting anyone know that you are a spy. If you succeed in your mission, you will receive appropriate rewards. If you fail, you will be punished accordingly.

Remove your Sci-Spy Instructions from your role envelope. Open the envelope and read your instructions, which indicate whether you are or are not a spy. Do not divulge your identity, regardless of whether you are or are not a spy.

When you have read your instructions, return them to the envelope and place them in a safe place. If you decide to switch roles, you will retain your secret Sci-Spy identity.