For release: January 19, 2006

Contacts: 
Steve Karsjen, Public Affairs, (515) 294-5643

INTEREST IN SCIENCE BOWL HITS NEW HIGH

Ames Laboratory/ISU Regional competition draws 48 teams and six alternates

AMES, Iowa – Students from 48 different high schools across Iowa will put their science knowledge to the test as they compete on Saturday, Jan. 28, in the 16th annual Regional Science Bowl. The competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University. Six of those schools also registered a second team, boosting the overall interest in the academic competition to new levels.

“We’ve had a full field a couple of times since we increased the competition to 48 teams in 2000, but we’ve never had so many alternate teams,” said Steve Karsjen, coordinator of the Ames Lab/ISU Science Bowl. Schools can register a second team in hopes those students will be allowed to compete in case other schools have to withdraw due to last-minute scheduling conflicts or weather-related issues.

“This is a strong indicator of the growing interest in our competition and how serious students are about demonstrating their competence in science and math,” Karsjen added.

Since it’s inception in 1991, 143 different Iowa high schools have participated in Science Bowl. This year two schools – Johnston and Sioux City West – are competing for the first time while three schools – Ames, Ankeny, and Cedar Rapids Kennedy – will be competing for the 16th straight year.

The 2006 Ames Lab/ISU Science Bowl begins at 8 a.m. in the Memorial Union on the Iowa State campus. The 48 participating Iowa high schools each send a team of up to five students for the fast-paced, daylong competition to answer questions from a broad range of science and math topics.

The event is one of 66 regional competitions being held throughout the nation. Throughout its history, more than 100,000 high school students have participated in regional tournaments leading up to the National finals. Regional champions will advance to DOE’s National Science Bowl®, April 27-May 1 in Washington, D.C.

The competing students will answer questions from categories such as astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry, earth science, general science and current events in the scientific and technical community. The 16 teams that fare best in the morning rounds will advance to the double-elimination competition in the afternoon.

Approximately 80 faculty, staff and students from Ames Laboratory and ISU serve as moderators, judges, timekeepers and scorekeepers during the event.

“We take our mission to help educate students very seriously,” Karsjen said. “Many of our scientists, staff, and students eagerly volunteer to support this important science outreach opportunity and look forward to working with the brightest students in the State of Iowa.”

Ames Laboratory is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.

Schools participating in the 2006 Science Bowl:

Schedule of events for the Ames Lab/ISU Science Bowl: (all events in Memorial Union)

8:00 a.m. – Registration (Campanile Room)
8:15 a.m. – Welcoming remarks (Great Hall)
8:30 a.m.-noon – Round-robin competition (various rooms)
Noon-1:00 p.m. – Lunch break
1:00-4:30 p.m. – Double-elimination competition of the top 16 teams (various rooms)
4:30-5:30 p.m. – Championship match and awards ceremony (Sun Room)

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Note to Editors: Digital images of all teams, taken during the competiton, will be available as well as images of the champion and second- and third-place teams. If you are interested in the photos, please contact Kerry Gibson, Ames Lab Public Affairs, at kgibson@ameslab.gov or by phone at (515) 294-1405 no later than noon on Friday, Jan. 27th.

If you are interested in attending the competition, please stop by the registration desk in the Campanile Room at the Memorial Union (or call Kerry at 515-450-8651) and we’ll assist you in finding competition rooms for specific teams.

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