For release: May 2, 2007

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

IOWA CITY REGINA THIRD IN NATIONAL
SCIENCE BOWL FUEL-CELL CAR CHALLENGE

Ames Lab/ISU Regional winner collects $1,250 for school's science program

AMES, Iowa – Regina Education Center of Iowa City, Iowa, finished third in the Hydrogen Fuel-cell Model Car challenge at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl® and collected a check for $1,250 for their efforts.

Sixteen teams participated in the King of the Hill portion of the fuel-cell car race, which took place on Friday and Saturday, April 27-28, at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Washington, D.C.   The event tested a model car’s ability to scale a six-foot inclined track in less than two minutes.  The first incline was set at five degrees, which Regina’s car climbed easily.  The team’s car performed equally as well at 10 degrees.  But when the incline was raised to 20 degrees, Regina’s car sat motionless.  Two cars were able to continue climbing to an incline of 40 degrees.  Since three cars, including Regina’s, had been successful in the 10 degree incline competition, they were forced to compete against one another in a three-way, 10 degree climb for third place.  Regina easily won that race.  

“The fuel-cell competition was great,” said Josh Modrick, a senior who competed on the Regina team.  “It provided a great opportunity to actually ‘do’ science.”  

The money won by the Regina team will be used by their school to promote science in the classroom. 

On Sunday, the Regina team participated in the academic finals of the National Science Bowl®.   They joined more than 300 students from across the United States in the event. Teams make it to the finals by winning Regional Science Bowl competitions held in their home states.  The Regina Education Center won the Regional competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University on January 27, 2007, at Iowa State.  

In the national event, teams of four students and one alternate squared off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format similar to the “Jeopardy” game show.  The students were quizzed on all science disciplines including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics and astronomy, and math. Teams were split into eight brackets of eight teams each.  Regina’s won/loss record in its bracket was 5-2, which wasn’t good enough to secure a spot in the “Sweet 16” double elimination portion of the competition. 

“We were in a tough bracket.  I still think we did real well,” said Barbara Reilly, coach of the Regina Education Center team. 

The Regina team finished 18th overall in the 64-team academic competition.  Members of the team include:  Vanessa Shiu, Peter Montag, Wes Hottel;  Phil Ward and  Josh Modrick.

DOE created the National Science Bowl in 1991 to encourage high school students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields. DOE supports mathematics and science education to help provide a technically trained and diverse workforce for the nation.  More than 100,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl throughout its 17-year history.

Ames Laboratory, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, 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.

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