Science Bowl
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The National Science Bowl is a quizbowl-like competition using only science questions. It could be called the bastard child of quizbowl and government-bureaucratized science. It is run and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Unique features of Science Bowl
- There are three types of questions: multiple choice, which have to be answered by repeating the correct choice exactly word-for-word or by saying the corresponding letter (w, x, y, or z), short answer, and "ordering" questions that ask players to order three items based on a certain property.
- Officially, five staff are required to run one game room: a reader, a scorekeeper, a timekeeper, a scientific judge, and a rules judge. Sometimes rooms will have two scientific judges, or two or three rules judges. At many regional and invitational meets, however, fewer staff are used.
- The strict adherence to rules of any kind. A example is "10 to the −1" not being accepted for ".1" or "1/10" in a short answer question.
- When answering incorrectly in the middle of a tossup, 4 points are awarded to the other team, rather than losing 4 points for your team.
- "Blurting," or saying the answer before being recognized, results in 4 points for the other team, and they get a chance to answer the question.
- The national tournament also features a number of non-quizbowl competitions, like an electric car race and design competition.
Academic Competition Results
High School
Middle School
| Year | Champion | Second | Third | Fourth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Greater Boston Math & Science | JDroids Science Club | Takoma Park | Science Infinity |
| 2013 | Creekside (Carmel, IN) | Takoma Park (Montgomery Co., MD) | Hopkins (Fremont, CA) | Treasure Valley |
| 2012 | Hopkins (Fremont, CA) | Longfellow | Seattle Science Infinity Club (not a school) | Treasure Valley |
| 2011 | Gale Ranch (San Ramon Co., CA) | Shahala (Clark Co., WA) | Hopkins (Fremont, CA) | Van Antwerp |
| 2010 | ||||
| 2009 | ||||
| 2002 | Samford (Auburn, AL) |