Building Ocean Literacy Through Good, Old-Fashioned Competition

Ok, get your thinking caps on and no cheating! Can you answer the following three questions?

1. Which organisms form the base of the food chain at hydrothermal vents due to their ability to convert carbon and nutrients into organic matter in the absence of sunlight?

1. A. photosynthetic bacteria;

1. B. chemosynthetic bacteria;

1. C. secondary consumers;

1. D. pelagic chondrichthyans

2. What is the approximate age of the oldest oceanic crust?

1. A. 100 thousand years;

1. B. 1 million years;

1. C. 50 million years;

1. D. 180 million years

3. Which part of a tidal cycle has minimal current?

1. A. Ebb tide;

1. B. Flood tide;

1. C. Slack tide;

1. D. Lunar tide

These questions—written by top ocean scientists and educators—are just a few examples of the hundreds of questions asked of students participating in the 25 regional competitions and annual national competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. Go to the end of this blog to see if you answered correctly!

Created in 1998 in honor of the International Year of the Ocean, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl has grown tremendously, in size and prominence, to now involving roughly 400 schools, 2,000 students, and over 1,200 volunteers each year.

In head-to-head competition, quiz-bowl style, individuals from two teams of high school students (four students, one alternate and, of course, a teacher coach) answer moderate and advanced-level questions covering all disciplines of the ocean sciences: biology, chemistry, geology, physics, policy, maritime history, and technology. In between two rounds of “buzzer questions,” students collaborate to answer more in-depth, graded questions known as Team Challenge Questions as a collective-brain. At the end of the day, a winner is crowned and prizes are awarded. The winners of the 25 regional competitions then move on to the national competition and battle for the championship and amazing prizes. Past winners have received trips to Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Panama, field research experiences, and gear for the classroom and field.

The Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic region is fortunate to have six regional competitions:

• Chesapeake Bay Bowl (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia)
• Blue Crab Bowl (Virginia)
• Bay Scallop Bowl (New York)
• Shore Bowl (New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania)
• Penguin Bowl (Western Pennsylvania and Ohio)
• Blue Heron Bowl (North Carolina)

For the first time this year, the Chesapeake Bay Bowl, which serves students from PA, DE, MD, and northern VA, will be coordinated by Delaware Sea Grant and the University of Delaware. The competition will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Delaware—that’s right, at the beach!

If you are interested in developing a team at your high school for any of the NOSB regional competitions, now is the time to start preparing your students. Team registration information for all regional competitions is now posted. The NOSB website includes a wealth of information on how to prepare for a competition, with recommended resources, training tips, and sample questions. If your school is interested in participating in the Chesapeake Bay Bowl, fill our this form by November 20th: http://bit.ly/CBB2014Intent

I hope to see you at the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Bowl on February 1!