National Science Bowl® Frequently Asked Questions
Why
does U.S. Dept. of Energy sponsor the Science Bowl?
The Dept. of Energy (DOE) is interested in making math and
science fun for students to encourage them to pursue studies
and careers in math and science. The DOE sponsors many science
research projects in all disciplines and has a vested interest
in future young scientists. The DOE partners with volunteers
and organizations all over the country to coordinate regional
events. Visit our website for more background information.
Who
participates and how?
In the fall of each school year, high school students form
a team of 4-5 students and a coach, who is usually a teacher.
(Middle school students can participate in the National Middle
School Science Bowl at www.scied.science.doe.gov/nmsb.)
Eligibility rules can be found on our website, as well as
strategies for preparing your team. A coach may bring up to
three teams from the same school IF the regional event allows
for multiple teams (check first). The team finds information
on their local regional event and registers for the event.
Then, the team can practice before the events that are held
from January to March. The regional winner from each region
is invited to attend the National event in Washington, DC
in April/May.
How
do I register for a regional event?
Visit our website to find the closest event to you –
there will be a link to start the registration process. The
coach should handle the registration process. Most sites allow
you to register from the website directly. Some sites use
paper forms (complete your information on a pdf form). Once
you have entered the information, be sure to confirm your
registration with your science bowl coordinator, as some events
will have waiting lists or cut-off dates. (See end of FAQ
list for technical answers.)
What
if there is no science bowl regional near me?
You can contact the closest science bowl coordinator and ask
if your team can compete or can come to watch or to serve
as volunteers. If you are interested in starting a new science
bowl regional, please contact the NSB national coordinator.
Are
there sample questions?
Yes, please visit our website. You can also write your own
or practice with a neighboring team.
How
hard are the questions?
The questions cover seven categories at a college freshman
level. You can study using material from AP coursework, and/or
working with teachers or fellow students. Questions are in
astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, general science,
mathematics and physics. The general rule of thumb is that
questions in earlier rounds are easier than questions in later
rounds of the competition. Regional questions are generally
easier than national questions.
Where
do the questions come from? Do you need submissions?
The Dept. of Energy uses the government contracting process
to hire a company to write all the questions for the regional
and national events. This helps with consistency of level
and type and to avoid duplication. You are welcome to submit
questions on our website. Some regional competitions may write
additional questions and use them at their event.
What
happens at the National Event in April/May?
Each team that won their regional tournament – 68 teams
from all over the country – will travel to Washington,
DC to compete for the national title. They arrive in Washington,
DC three days before and have a full schedule of educational
seminars and sightseeing before they start the competition.
The event takes place at the National 4-H Conference Center
in Chevy Chase, Maryland. More information can be found on
this Web page: www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb/nationals.htm.
What
are the rules differences between regionals and nationals?
As far as the rules go, the national questions are more difficult
and the rounds are composed of two 10-minute halves (versus
8-minute at regionals). With more teams, the competition lasts
longer. Some regional events may alter the rules to fit their
resources and schedule, so it is good to refresh your understanding
by re-reading the national rules. (See the website for more
infomation)
Other
differences?
Regional events have the flexibility to match their tournament
to their local needs, so there is a diversity of student experiences
from one to another location. The national event adheres to
a more traditional format. For the teams at the national event,
there is usually press coverage, nice gifts to volunteers
and competitors, an award ceremony to honor sponsors and regional
facilities, government representatives including members of
Congress.
I’ve
graduated high school but would still like to be involved
– what can I do?
You are a great resource for us to continue the fun of science
bowl for other students. Please consider volunteering for
an event (see next question). NSB alumni are also an important
part of each National event – contact Sue Ellen Walbridge
if you are interested in attending as an alumni guest. Other
options include coaching a science bowl team, giving a science
presentation at a science bowl, or helping to coordinate a
regional event.
Note: The Dept. of Energy has science research internship
opportunities for college students in all fields of science
and math and for pre-service science teachers. Learn more
at www.scied.science.doe.gov
I’m
interested in volunteering – What do volunteers do?
Thank you for your interest! It is important to encourage
students to enjoy math and science. Please contact your regional
coordinator and/or the national coordinator to get more information.
Volunteers are needed to be competition officials and assist
with the information desk and other logistics. More information
on volunteers can be found on our website. There are 5 officials
for every competition room and several runners who bring the
scoresheets to Science Bowl Central. Officials are: Moderator
(reads questions), Scientific Judge (operates buzzer system,
judges answers), Rules Judge (watches audience and team, guards
scrap paper), Timekeeper (keep time for round and time for
answers), and Scorekeeper (writes score on scoreboard).
Any
other questions?
Contact the National Science Bowl® coordinator,
Sue Ellen Walbridge, at (202) 586-7231 sue-ellen.walbridge@science.doe.gov or See us on the web at http://nationalsciencebowl.energy.gov
Technical Answers to Using Science Bowl Online Application System
I’m
a returning coach but my password doesn’t work.
Please create a new account every year that you participate
in Science Bowl. We ask for different information on the team
each year.
What
does my computer need?
Internet Browser: Netscape 4.5 or higher or Internet Explorer
5.5 or higher
Settings: cookies enabled; JavaScript enabled; and SSL enabled
What
do I need to set up an account?
The coach should set up the account – need an e-mail
address,
Keep your username and password handy for future visits.
What
if I forget my password?
If you forget your password, there is a password notification
with a security question on the log-in page; if you still
cannot retrieve your password, contact your regional coordinator.
I
filled out the information, why does it not mark registration
as complete?
Make sure that you click “submit” at the bottom
of your form. If you are having problems, please contact your
regional coordinator.
How
can I change a student name, coach name, or other information?
You can make changes until the “submit” button
is clicked. After that, please ask your coordinator to make
the changes.
My
team won our regional event – how do I get an account
for national event?
If you already have an account, you don’t need to do
anything. Your regional coordinator will “select”
your team as the winner. Then, you will be able to access
more information. If you do not have an account, your regional
coordinator will set one up for you and give you instructions.
What
if I see the error “agent done?”
Please close all your internet browser windows. Then open
your browser, go to the site, and log-in again.
What
if I am having other problems with the system?
System glitches do happen, so please report them to your regional
coordinator with any information on what happened before the
glitch. They can either help you fix the problem or will contact
other technical support.