Students from local high schools will compete in the 2014 National Science Bowl regional competition on Feb. 22 at the Blount County Campus of the Pellissippi State Community College in Friendsville.
Now in its 24th year, the event, which is sponsored by the Department of Energy and managed by DOE's Office of Science, is designed to encourage the development of the nation's future leaders in science and technology and train the next generation of scientists and engineers for DOE. More than 225,000 students have participated in the annual event since it was created in 1991.
From this January through the end of March, about 9,000 high school students on some 1,850 teams are expected to compete in 69 high school regional competitions, which will be held in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Another 5,000 middle school students on about 1,100 teams are also expected to participate in 48 regional competitions in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Regional winners will head to the National Finals in Washington D.C., scheduled for April 24-28.
During the competitions, teams of four students face off against one another in a fast-paced, question and answer format. They'll be challenged to solve mathematical problems and tested on their knowledge of a wide range of disciplines including astronomy, biology, earth science and physics.
Here's a quick sampling from Round 1 of a practice set that goes all the way up to Round 17:
1. As a percentage by volume in Earth's atmosphere, what are the two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere?
2. What is the most common term in physics for the product of mass times velocity?
3. What planet has the greatest variation in temperature over a single one of its planetary days?
Answers: 1) Nitrogen and Oxygen, 2) Momentum, 3) Mercury
Improving students' knowledge is one reason that DOE sponsors this, one of the nation's largest science competitions. But the larger goal of the National Science Bowl is to inspire the nation's future leaders in science and technology; to get them interested, to see them rewarded, and to start them on the way to building a better and brighter future. It starts with students with dedication, teams with ambition, coaches and parents with pride. And it adds up fast. Each regional sparks new talent; each competition gives future scientists the confidence they can shine. Best of all, the knowledge and skills students learn will continue to grow well after the competitions have concluded, officials said.
The Department's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information visit http://science.energy.gov/about. For more information about the National Science Bowl, visit http://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/.
One or more teams from the following schools are competing:
Bartlett High
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Bartlett
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Sullivan Central High School
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Blountville
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Brentwood High School
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Brentwood
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Tennessee High School
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Bristol
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Hickman County High School
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Centerville
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The McCallie School
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Chattanooga
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Northwest High School
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Clarksville
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Rossview High School
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Clarksville
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STEM Academy at Kenwood High School
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Clarksville
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Bradley Central High School
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Cleveland
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Anderson County High School
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Clinton
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Clinton High School
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Clinton
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Cookeville High School
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Cookeville
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Gibbs High School
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Corryton
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Jefferson County High School
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Dandridge
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Gibson County High School
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Dyer
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Unaka High School
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Elizabethton
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Blount Home Education Association
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Friendsville
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Daniel Boone High School
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Gray
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Merrol Hyde Magnet School
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Hendersonville
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Campbell County Comprehensive High School
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Jacksboro
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Liberty Technology Magnet High School
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Jackson
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Science Hill High School
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Johnson City
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David Crockett High School
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Jonesborough
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Sullivan South High School
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Kingsport
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Roane County High School
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Kingston
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Bearden High School
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Knoxville
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Central High School
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Knoxville
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Farragut High
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Knoxville
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Hardin Valley Academy
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Knoxville
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Karns High School
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Knoxville
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Knoxville Catholic High School
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Knoxville
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Webb School of Knoxville
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Knoxville
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Lenoir City High
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Lenoir City
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Livingston Academy
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Livingston
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Sequoyah High School
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Madisonville
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Heritage High School
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Maryville
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Maryville High School
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Maryville
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Christian Brothers High School
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Memphis
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Lausanne Collegiate School
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Memphis
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Melrose High School
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Memphis
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Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering
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Memphis
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Memphis University School
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Memphis
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Siegel High School
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Murfreesboro
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Ensworth School
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Nashville
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Stratford Stem Magnet High School
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Nashville
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Oak Ridge High
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Oak Ridge
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Rockwood High School
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Rockwood
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Cherokee High School
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Rogersville
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Signal Mountain High School
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Signal Mountain
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White County High School
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Sparta
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Summit High School
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Spring Hill
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Independence High School
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Thompson's Station
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Obion County Central High School
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Troy
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Community High School
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Unionville
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