16 teams to compete at Jefferson Lab, Saturday, Feb. 4
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Some of Virginia’s brightest young minds will meet this weekend at the U.S. Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab to see if they have what it takes to be Science Bowl Champion. The National Science Bowl® – sponsored annually by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science – is an academic competition among teams of four or five students.
Local students will first compete at the Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Jefferson Lab. The winning team will represent Virginia at the National Science Bowl® finals later this year. Teams from 16 schools are registered for this year's competition.
“This event opens a door of knowledge and opportunity for local students," notes Christine Wheeler, Jefferson Lab Science Education administrator. “Participation in the National Science Bowl® encourages them to explore the fields of math and science outside of the classroom, helping them to excel academically and preparing them to become scientific leaders in the community.”
Since the inception of the National Science Bowl®, approximately 265,000 students have participated in regional tournaments around the country. The teams face off in an intense question-and-answer format where contestants are quizzed on their knowledge of math and a range of science disciplines, including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics and energy.
The top three teams at the regional competition on Feb. 4 will earn cash prizes and team trophies for their respective schools. The top team also wins an expenses-paid trip to the National Science Bowl® finals to be held in Washington, D.C., April 27 – May 1.
“Having this event at Jefferson Lab exposes the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators to the lab’s staff who volunteer during the competition, providing the students with more insight into the exciting opportunities and variety of possibilities available to them by perusing a DOE-related career,” Wheeler adds. “This competition helps lay the groundwork for future innovation and discovery in the United States.”
The afternoon semi-final and final rounds beginning at 1:45 p.m. in the CEBAF Center auditorium, located at 12000 Jefferson Ave., will be open to the public. Seating in the auditorium is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. People arriving once capacity has been reached will be turned away. All those under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Everyone over 16 is asked to carry a valid photo ID. Security guards may perform ID, parcel and vehicle checks.
Virginia schools registered for the competition include (in alphabetical order):
Atlee High School, Mechanicsville
Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, Virginia Beach
Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville
Colonial Heights High School, Colonial Heights
Hayfield Secondary, Alexandria
Hickory High School, Chesapeake
Isle of Wight Academy, Isle of Wight
Langley High School, McLean
New Horizons Governor’s School for Science and Technology, Hampton
Patrick Henry High School, Ashland
Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach
Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn
St. Christopher’s School, Richmond
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, Alexandria
Stuart High School, Falls Church
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria
Jefferson Lab will also host the Virginia Regional Middle School Science Bowl on Saturday, March 4.
Learn more about DOE's National Science Bowl® competition at: https://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/.
Contact: Deb Magaldi, Jefferson Lab Communications Office, 757-269-5102, magaldi@jlab.org