National Science Bowl® Fact Sheet

To help ensure that today’s brightest students become tomorrow’s scientific leaders, President Bush has unveiled the American Competitiveness Initiative. This initiative increases investment in research and development, strengthens science and math education for America’s youth, and encourages entrepreneurship and technology discovery. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Science Bowl® brings the American Competitiveness Initiative to life; it exemplifies how children who are engaged, encouraged, and equipped with the proper resources can succeed academically. The goal of this initiative – and the National Science Bowl® – is to invest in our next generation of scientists, engineers and educators so America can remain at the forefront of innovation and successfully compete in the 21st century global marketplace.

About the National Science Bowl®

The 16th annual National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science. The National Science Bowl®, the only science competition in the United States sponsored by a federal agency, contributes to DOE’s ongoing effort to excite America’s youth about science, math and engineering. Competing teams of diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate student, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. Teams are quizzed on scientific topics in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth science, general science, and mathematics using a question-and-answer format similar to “Jeopardy.”

DOE’s National Science Bowl® Quick Facts

• More than 12,000 high school students from 1,800 schools in 42 states compete each year, making the National Science Bowl® the nation’s largest science competition.
• Since 1991, more than 100,000 high school students – and their teachers – have participated.
• 65 regional competitions are held around the country from January to March.
• Regional championship teams receive all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C., to compete for the national title the last weekend in April.
• DOE’s National Science Bowl® finals will be held April 27-May 1, 2006, in Washington, D.C.
• A key component of the finals in Washington, DC, is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge.
• The winning team and second place teams receive a science research trip to domestic DOE site and France, in addition to funds for their school’s science departments.
• More than 5,000 volunteers from the private sector, academia, non-profit groups and DOE help manage and implement these events.
• Invited guests include U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman, Mrs. Diane Bodman and U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings.
• This year, national corporate sponsors include General Motors, AREVA, Inc. Bechtel Corporation, IBM, and Texas Instruments.
• Regional sponsors range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

DOE's Office of Science, which manages the National Science Bowl®, is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the nation and helps ensure U.S. world leadership across a broad range of scientific disciplines. The Office of Science supports a diverse portfolio of research at more than 300 colleges and universities nationwide, manages 10 world-class national laboratories with unmatched capabilities for solving complex interdisciplinary scientific problems, and builds and operates the world’s finest suite of scientific facilities and instruments used annually by more than 19,000 researchers to extend the frontiers of all areas of science.

For more information about DOE’s National Science Bowl®, including the list of regional science bowl competitions, visit http://nationalsciencebowl.energy.gov.