Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University will host the 23rd annual Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, on the Iowa State University campus. The day-long competition will be supported by volunteers from both the Ames Lab and Iowa State communities.
"Ames National Lab is excited to again host incredible students from all across the state of Iowa to Science Bowl,” said Mary Ronayne, Iowa Regional Science Bowl coordinator and education and outreach program specialist at Ames Lab. “And, we are extremely grateful to all of our donors and volunteers who make this event possible."
Ames Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory located on the Iowa State campus. Hosting the Science Bowl reflects the lab’s commitment to inspiring students to pursue higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while helping cultivate talent aligned with the missions of the DOE and Ames Lab.
"Iowa Regional Science Bowl events offer the youth of the state of Iowa the opportunity to showcase their knowledge in the STEM fields, while experiencing a sense of community," said Kelly Bergman, the education and outreach program manager at Ames Lab.
The National Science Bowl (NSB)® was established by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1991 to encourage academic excellence in science and mathematics and to promote STEM career pathways. As one of the nation’s largest science competitions, the NSB® culminates in national finals, where regional winners will compete April 24–28, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
The schools currently scheduled to participate in this year’s regional Middle School Science Bowl are:
Adm Middle School
Ames Middle School
BCLUW Middle School
Bettendorf Middle School
Carroll Middle School
Clear Lake Middle School
Colo-Nesco Middle/High School
DeSoto Intermediate School
Earlham Middle School
Holy Trinity
Indian Hills Junior High School
Johnston Middle School
Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School
Nevada Middle School
North Middle School
North Scott Junior High School
Northview Middle School
PCM Middle School
Prairie Ridge Middle School
Sacred Heart School
South Middle School
Southeast Polk Middle School
St Albert Catholic
St Ansgar Middle School
Stilwell Junior High School
Timberline School
Waukee Middle School
Ames National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science National Laboratory operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies, and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities, and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems.
Ames National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit https://energy.gov/science.
The DOE’s Office of Science manages the NSB and sponsors the NSB finals competition. More information about these events is available on the National Science Bowl (NSB)® website.