The National Science Bowl is a highly competitive science education and academic event among teams of high school and middle school students who compete in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. The Science Bowl was started by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to encourage America's best and brightest high school students to explore the fields of science and engineering. Since its inception, more than 100,000 high school science and mathematics students and their teachers have participated. The Science Bowl is a lockout round robin competition. Teams are quizzed on multiple choice and short answer questions in the categories of biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth science, general science and mathematics. The teams are comprised of four to five students and a coach. Many participating students have gone on to careers in scientific fields.

The only way to qualify for the National Science Bowl is to win a regional competition. The Minnesota Science Academy holds two regional competitions for the state of Minnesota; one for Middle School students and the other for High School students. The High School tournament is Friday January 21, 2011 and the Middle School tournament is Mid February, 2011 (either the 19th or the 26th. Negotiations are ongoing with the Middle School hosting university and cannot be set until their academic schedule is finalized in Sept. or Oct. The final date will be posted as soon as possible.) . Team registrations are accepted in the order they are received, those exceeding the 36-team maximum in either competition will be placed on a waiting list. All participants receive a free T-shirt and a meal. The winning team receives a trophy and individual medals and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Science Bowl, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy. The second and third place teams received individual medals.

Registration begins 11/1/2010

What happens at the National Science Bowl?

The National Science Bowl event includes several days of science activities, sightseeing, and competitions. It's a mini-conference and valuable experience. There are cutting-edge science seminars and hands-on science activities. The teams who advance to the elimination rounds will earn a monetary prize for their school. Top teams also receive trophies and other awards, including science trips for the high school teams.

The National Science Bowl for Middle School Students includes two types of competitions, an academic math and science competition and a hydrogen fuel cell model car race. The car race provides the students with a hands-on science and engineering experience where the teams design, guild, and race their model cars.

Who participates?

Any current public, private, or home school is welcome to participate. Teams not associated with a school such as community groups, girl scouts, boy scouts and science clubs are welcome to participate; however, if the school a student attends is competing in the tournament, then that student may compete only on a team from that school. No more than 3 teams from one school or student group may compete in a regional event. The high school science bowl is for current ninth through twelfth grade students. The middle school science bowl is for current sixth through eighth grade students.

How can I get involved?

Form a team of 4 to 5 students.

Find a coach and register for the Minnesota regional tournament.

Study and practice answering the sample questions.

Compete in the Minnesota regional tournament

The Minnesota regional winning team will receive and all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Science Bowl.

How can I volunteer?

Science Bowl events depend on local volunteers from all ages and skills to serve as competition officials and run the events. If you are interested in sharing your love of science and math with students, contact Lisa Warbritton at lwarbritton@mnmas.org to volunteer.