The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl
The National Science Bowl is one of the largest science competitions in the United States, with over 344,000 students having participated in its 34-year history. Even if you don’t win the competition, being part of the National Science Bowl can bring many benefits for both middle and high school students, from general school life to college applications and beyond.
What is the National Science Bowl?
The National Science Bowl is a nationwide science and mathematics competition for middle and high school students, created by the U.S. Department of Energy to encourage participation and excellence in certain STEM fields. Teams of four students, one alternate, and one teacher face off in a series of fast-paced questions with topics ranging from biology to calculus and everything in between.
The teacher serves as both an advisor and mentor, with the alternate being someone who can take a participant’s place if the need arises. All the students from one National Science Bowl team must be from the same school.
A general timeline of the National Science Bowl
The timeline for the National Science Bowl changes yearly, but here is a general overview of the sequence of events during this competition:
Finding a team
Teams are groups of 4 to 5 students from one middle or high school, the fifth student being an alternate ready to fill in if something goes wrong. Each team also needs a teacher to advise the group and coach them to success.
If you already have friends or people you know who would be interested in grouping with you, get their confirmation as soon as possible! If you know no one right now to partner with, try putting up advertisement posters around your school or starting a club for anyone interested in the National Science Bowl! Creating a club will publicize the event to people who might not have known of the competition before, and give any teams that register a chance each week to learn from each other and potentially get a leg-up in the National Science Bowl.
Registering for the competition
Registration for the National Science Bowl 2023 began October 2; although the dates are subject to change each competition season, the registration period will begin around that time every year. To register you must have your team and advisor sorted out already.
Coaches should take care of the registration process, details for which can be found online on the National Science Bowl website. Registration typically closes during the month of December.
Preparation
Now that you have your team and have secured your spot in the competition, it’s time to start studying! The National Science Bowl is a math and science-heavy event, so it goes without saying that there will need to be a lot of preparation put into the months leading up to the competition. I have included some tips for preparation in one of the following sections.
Regional Competition
Your team has prepared for months now. The regional competition for the National Science Bowl will be held one day from January to March, the exact date depending on which region you are participating in. You will compete against all the teams in your region that have registered for the National Science Bowl, rapidly answering a series of math and science questions as if you’re on a game show.
National Competition
The national competition is for the best of the best - the winners of all the regional National Science Bowls come together in the spring to compete for the title of National Science Bowl Champions by proving their ultimate expertise in STEM. This competition will be intense but the adrenaline and knowledge will be out of the world - this is where you want to be!
Why participate in the National Science Bowl?
Participating in the National Science Bowl can open you to a plethora of opportunities, giving you a leg-up in college apps and other important applications regardless of your status at the end of the event. The preparation you put in will also give you a large store of science and math knowledge that can help you in school and beyond.
Winners of the National Science Bowl, of course, can come away from the competition with a collection of prizes.
Prizes
The top two high school teams win an all-expenses-paid trip to one national park, and the top three middle & high school teams receive a school trophy, individual medals, and pictures with DOE officials.
Even if you’re not one of the top 3, you can still win some money for your school! The best 16 teams receive a check for their school’s science departments, the amount ranging from $1000 to $3000 depending on placement and year. The best teams from each Division Team Challenge can also win $500 for their school’s science department.
There is another challenge middle school teams can participate in, which welcomes students to construct a car capable of reaching high speeds powered by alternative energy sources. Winners receive $500 for their school as well.
Preparation & Requirements
How can I get ready to compete in the National Science Bowl?
Competing in the National Science Bowl will take a lot of out-of-school preparation time, especially if you plan to place nationally at the event.
Study Together
Meet with your group and advisor as frequently as possible, increasing the commitment each week as the contest draws near. You will need to be well-versed in concepts spanning all science and math topics, from biology to trigonometry to calculus. Of course, there are different cohorts for middle and high school students, so topics will vary based on grade level. However, the need for preparation is still the same regardless of age.
Know Your Basics
The best way to prepare is to start from the ground up - strengthen your foundational knowledge first because every question will stem from there. If you don’t know where a concept comes from, it will be difficult to retain more advanced ideas.
Think Like You’re Already Competing
Begin stimulating the adrenaline-filled question-and-answer environment; you can ask your advisor to write your team questions or use these resources provided on the Department of Energy’s website.
The competition will utilize buzzers and many teams may buzz in even before the moderator has finished asking their question, so get comfortable with interrupting questions early if necessary and thinking extremely quickly. However, keep in mind that if a team buzzes in early but answers incorrectly, they receive a penalty of four points to the opposing side.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
Teamwork can make the difference between first and second place. Even if each individual knows all the knowledge in the world, if they are unable to share their expertise and work with each other, it will be difficult to compete in an environment where teams are judged as groups, not individuals. Get comfortable with everyone in your team, including the alternate and advisor, and be sure to talk about each member’s strengths and weaknesses to create the strongest overall participant.
Attend Workshops Hosted by the DOE
The Department of Energy and other organizations host valuable training sessions throughout competition season, providing tips that not many teams know of. Participating in these sessions can provide insight into the National Science Bowl and allow students to learn from previous coaches and mentors. Take your time to learn from past experiences, especially if it is your first time competing!
Tips for Success
If you follow the preparation guide above, your team will already be well on its way to succeeding in the National Science Bowl competition. However, here are some additional tips that can help bolster your performance and keep you going strong throughout the season.
Make Sure You Know the Rules
As with any nationwide competition, there are many requirements that characterize the National Science Bowl - one example is the ineligibility of students from outside of the United States, and the National Science Bowl is a national American contest. Find other requirements and resources on the Department of Energy’s website.
Make sure you’re also comfortable with the kinds of questions that may be asked - like multiple-choice and short answers - and how to give your answer to ensure you get credit for them.
Keep Your Goals in Mind
Are you entering the competition to win for merit? To get your school money to fund science programs? To learn science and math in-depth and get the opportunity to compete with the best students in the nation? Whatever your reason for entering the National Science Bowl, allow your goals to keep you working hard during the preparation season - losing your purpose can make you slack off before the competition, ensuring that you do not achieve any of the objectives you had set previously.
Have Fun!
As cheesy as it sounds, the National Science Bowl is just a middle or high school competition - it is a chance to win some amazing prizes, sure, but it also presents you with the opportunity to learn through competition and meet some amazing people along the way. Who knows - the person you meet at the regional event may even go on to cure cancer! Of course, not all connections you make will be so impactful - but don’t forget that it’s just a game. A quiz show, like Jeopardy!. So smile, put your best foot forward, and make yourself some memories that are sure to last a lifetime!
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