Some of the brightest young minds in the Commonwealth will meet at the Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab on Saturday, Feb. 11, to compete in the Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl. Twenty-three teams, representing high schools from across the region are participating in this year's academic competition.
The National Science Bowl tournament - sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy since 1991- is an annual, academic competition among teams of students. "These events champion an interest in science and math among our nation's youth," notes Jan Tyler, Jefferson Lab's Science Education program manager. The teams face off in an intense question-and-answer format where contestants are grilled on their knowledge in math and a variety of scientific fields. The first place team from each regional tournament wins a trip to the Science Bowl Nationals held in Washington D.C., April 27 - May 1 and a cash prize. Runner-up teams win cash prizes to purchase science equipment for their respective schools.
"Developing the next generation of scientists and engineers is a critical part of ensuring America's scientific, economic and energy future," said Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman. "The National Science Bowl is an important part of DOE's effort to encourage America's best and brightest to explore the fields of science and engineering and ultimately be a part of solving the great questions facing our nation and our world, as scientists and engineers have done throughout our history."
For the last four years, the winning team at the Virginia Regional Science Bowl - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, from Alexandria, Va. - has gone on to become the National Science Bowl® winner.
The public is invited to attend the semi-final and final rounds of the Feb. 11 competition at Jefferson Lab, which will run from 1:30-5 p.m. in Jefferson Lab's CEBAF Center auditorium located at 12000 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, Va. For security purposes visitors must enter at Jefferson Lab's main entrance (Onnes Dr.). Everyone 16 and older is asked to carry a photo I.D., and security guards may perform parcel and vehicle inspections.
Jefferson Lab will also host the Virginia Regional Middle School Science Bowl on Saturday, March 11.
More information about DOE.s National Science Bowl, including the list of regional science bowl competitions, is available at http://nationalsciencebowl.energy.gov/.
Virginia high schools registered for the 2006 regional event (in alphabetical order):
- Bassett High School, Bassett, VA
- Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville, VA
- Clover High School, Midlothian, VA
- Douglas Freeman High School, Richmond, VA
- Floyd E. Kellam High School, Virginia Beach, VA
- Forest Park Senior High School, Woodbridge, VA
- Gloucester High School, Gloucester, VA
- Hampton Roads Academy, Newport News, VA
- Harrisonburg High School, Harrisonburg, VA
- Kempsville High School, Virginia Beach, VA
- Langley High School, McLean, VA
- Mount Vernon High School, Alexandria, VA
- Nansemond River High School, Suffolk, VA
- Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, VA
- New Horizons Governor.s School, Hampton, VA
- Piedmont Governor's School of Math, Science & Technology, Collinsville, VA
- Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach, VA
- Robert E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
- St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
- St. Stephens & St. Agnes School, Alexandria, VA
- T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria, VA
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Alexandria, VA
- Woodbridge Senior High School, Woodbridge, VA
To learn more about DOE's 2006 National Science Bowl competition, visit http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb/
Check out the types of questions students must answer at www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb/samplqs.htm
View DOE's 2006 Science Bowl press release at http://www.energy.gov/news/3088.htm