Students across the nation are gearing up for the U.S. Department of Energy's 32nd annual National Science Bowl this spring.
This year's competitors are working toward winning regional competitions in an effort to advance to the finals, the DOE reported in a release on Jan. 18. Approximately 325,000 high school and middle school students have competed in the event since its inception 1991. Participants compete on topics that include chemistry, biology, Earth science, energy, physics and math.
"The knowledge that former competitors have acquired and, more importantly, the collaborative skills and study habits that they learned along the way have led them to successes in a variety of fields," the DOE reported. "Many have become researchers; others are science and math professors. The 2022 competitors will follow in the footsteps of previous National Science Bowl® contestants and will blaze a trail for students in science, math, and engineering."
Among these past competitors is Seth Johnson, who competed in the bowl in high school for three years and has volunteered to help run the bowl several times ever since, the DOE reported. He now works in software development at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
"Science bowl, in some ways, set the direction for my life," Johnson said in a profile on the DOE's website. "It influenced me so strongly in my engagement in science and engineering and also my involvement in the community and science outreach to kids. It is one of the pillars of my life."
Dates for this year's competition are still up in the air due to COVID-19, but DOE officials will know by early March whether the bowl will be virtual, the DOE reported. If this year's national finals are virtual, then middle school and high school teams will compete on May 7 and May 21, respectively. If this year's bowl will be an in-person event, then all students will compete April 28-May 2 in Washington, D.C.
Each team will receive at least $500 for participating, while the first-place team will receive up to $2,500 toward their school's science, technology, engineering and math activities, the DOE reported.
"But to many, the ultimate prize is simply the prestige of winning the National Championship," the DOE reported.
