As the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s (UCAR) newest community program, the Center for Ocean Leadership (COL) is once again making waves. Between January and March, COL’s National Ocean Sciences Bowl® (NOSB), a nationally recognized and highly acclaimed high school academic competition, engaged approximately 650 students on 150 teams from 105 schools across 21 states in 17 regional ocean sciences bowls hosted by universities and education-focused institutions around the country. 

“The National Ocean Science Bowl is more than just a competition where students master competition skills — it is an opportunity for students to learn about the many challenges facing our global ocean and how each of them can play a crucial role in addressing those challenges,” said COL Director Sonya Legg. 

In each competition, students were tested on their knowledge of ocean science disciplines through buzzer-style, multiple-choice questions and open-ended team challenge questions. Teams raced to be the first to answer questions like,“Which of the following is the closest living relative to the extinct Steller’s sea cow: Steller sea lion, West Indian manatee, walrus, or dugong?”

In lieu of a national finals competition this year, participating students were invited to explore the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) Mesa Laboratory in a live virtual tour hosted by the UCAR Center for Science Education. They heard from PhD Candidate Holly Olivarez, a former NSF Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) protegé, about her work using Earth system models to study ocean biogeochemistry. 

In addition to the prizes and award trip opportunities generously offered by regional hosts, the winning teams are also receiving prizes from the NOSB national office. One lucky team will even have the opportunity to join NOSB staff, Melissa Brodeur and Nicole Palma, in Washington, D.C. for Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), the nation’s premier annual conference examining current marine, coastal, and Great Lakes policy issues, thanks to funding from the UCAR Friends of the National Center Education Fund.

Regional competitions were made possible by support from regional and national sponsors. Learn more about the NOSB on the program website. 

2024 Regional Bowl Winners: 

• Bay Scallop Bowl - Midwood High School, Brooklyn, NY
• Blue Crab Bowl - Broadwater Academy, Exmore, VA
• Blue Heron Bowl - MERROW AQUAneers, Morehead City and Cape Carteret, NC
• Blue Lobster Bowl - Lexington High School, Lexington, MA
• Chesapeake Bay Bowl - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA
• Garibaldi Bowl - Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA
• Lake Sturgeon Bowl - Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, MO
• Los Angeles Surf Bowl - University High School, Irvine, CA
• Orca Bowl - Newport High School, Bellevue, WA
• Penguin Bowl - Centerville High School, Centerville, OH
• Quahog Bowl - Coginchaug Regional High School, Durham, CT
• Salmon Bowl - Benson Polytechnic High School, Portland, OR
• Sea Lion Bowl - Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA
• Shore Bowl - Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science, Manahawkin, NJ
• Southern Stingray Bowl - Teams ranked in unofficial rounds
• Spoonbill Bowl - P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, Gainesville, FL
• Tsunami Bowl - Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, Juneau, AK

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