Science Bowl 2008: JLab Volunteers Needed to Help With High School and Middle School Tournaments

The National Science Bowl®, sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Energy since 1991, is a highly visible series of academic competitions among teams of students. "These events champion an interest in science and math across the nation," says Jan Tyler, Science Education manager, "and are a great way to promote education, academic excellence and careers using math and science."

Volunteer support is critical to the success of the Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 2, and the Virginia Middle School Science Bowl set for Saturday, March 1.

"We need volunteers for a range of activities," she adds. "These events are great fun. And we will provide all volunteers with training, a Science Bowl T-shirt, and lunch if you are working during lunch time. We need you, your co-workers, spouses and children (over age 13) to assist with the many activities required to conduct these academic competitions.

"If you have enjoyed being part of the volunteer team for prior Science Bowls, or if you've never been to a Science Bowl, but want to be part of the excitement, we want you," she continues.

More than 70 volunteers will be needed to run each of the Science Bowl events. Most of the volunteers needed to support the tournaments will perform as competition moderators, rules judges, timekeepers and scorekeepers during the morning, round-robin sessions, according to Tyler. She will also need a smaller number of volunteers to run the afternoon double-elimination matches, be the on-site scientific judge who is called when a student challenges a question or answer during the competition, and a few individuals to help with administrative tasks. Volunteers may sign up for the morning shift (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or the day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

This is strictly a volunteer activity, Tyler reminds aspiring helpers. Anyone interested in more information or in volunteering, may contact Tyler by email (tyler@jlab.org) or ext. 7164.

Most of the public areas and conference rooms of CEBAF Center will be taken over during each of the competition days. Mornings will consist of round-robin matches, followed in the afternoons by double-elimination rounds. Twenty teams – more than 200 high school students, their families and coaches – that will gather for the high school bowl. Twenty teams have also registered for the middle school tournament.

The top three teams of each event earn cash prizes for their respective schools. The top high school team will also win an expenses-paid trip to the Science Bowl Nationals held near Washington, D.C., May 1-6. The top middle school team will advance to middle school nationals, June 19-22 in Golden, Colo. Each team is made up of five students, and a teacher who serves as advisor and coach.