Nearly 800 students to compete at 16th INL Scholastic Tournament

At the 16th annual INL Scholastic Tournament in February and March, 800 Idaho students from about 80 Idaho high schools will attempt to win one of three state championships and an expense-paid trip to the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., April 27-May 1.

The competition is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory and, along with 65 other regional science bowl competitions around the country, is part of the National Science Bowl competition coordinated by DOE.

Since its inception in 1991, the National Science Bowl has attracted more than 110,000 high school students in the contest, and about 13,000 more are expected to join the competition this year.

In Idaho, high schools will compete in one of three divisions based on school enrollment. Regional tournaments will be held at the Idaho State University Center for Higher Education in Idaho Falls, Boise State University and the University of Idaho.

Twenty-eight teams will emerge from the regionals and move on to the state championship tournament March 20-21 in Boise. The championship team of each division will travel to the national competition.

The competition is set up similar to sporting events with round-robin and consolation format tournaments. Teams consist of as many as 10 members, including seven students competing at a given time and three substitutes. The fast-paced question-and-answer event awards points to teams quickest to "buzz in" and answer the most questions correctly.

The West Regional tournament is Feb. 27 – 28 at Boise State University's Student Union Building. Competition rounds Feb. 27 begin at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Feb. 28 at 11 a.m.

The North Regional tournament is March 6 – 7 at the University of Idaho's Student Commons Building. Competition rounds March 6 begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and March 7 at 11 a.m.

The East Regional tournament is March 13 – 14 at the ISU Center for Higher Education in Idaho Falls. Competition rounds March 13 begin at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and March 14 at 10 a.m.

INL Scholastic Tournament receives financial support from Micron Foundation and Idaho Power.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's missions in energy, national security, science and environment. INL is operated for the DOE by Battelle Energy Alliance.

--INL--06-09

News Release Archive