VIRGINIA'S TOP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TEST THEIR OCEAN KNOWLEDGE AT BLUE CRAB BOWL
More than 80 science-minded high school students from across Virginia will compete for the state's oceanic knowledge championship at the seventh annual Blue Crab Bowl Saturday, Feb. 28, on the Old Dominion University campus. The Blue Crab Bowl is one of 24 regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) competitions held throughout the country. The winning team will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Charleston, S.C. in April to represent Virginia in the national competition.
ODU's Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography are co-hosting the event along with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William and Mary and the Virginia Sea Grant. More than 50 volunteers, including students, faculty and staff from the two host institutions, help coordinate the event.
Sixteen five-member student teams will answer questions about the world's oceans, encompassing the disciplines of physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, biology, economics, history and culture. The round robin, double-elimination tournament will continue throughout the day Saturday in room 104 of the Batten Arts and Letters Building. The championship rounds will begin at 3 p.m. Local schools Chesapeake Bay Governor's School, which took second place last year, Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, Isle of Wight Academy and Maury High School will participate in the event.
The students and teacher-coaches will arrive in Norfolk on Friday, Feb. 27, at Nauticus where they will take part in science programs at Nauticus and tours aboard ODU's research vessel the R/V Fay Slover.
The NOSB is sponsored by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education in partnership with the National Marine Educators Association to encourage and support the next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, teachers, explorers, researchers, technicians, environmental advocates and informed citizens. Approximately 2,000 students from 375 high schools participate in the competition.
For more information visit www.vims.edu/BCB or call 683-5567.