Inspiring and Challenging the Nation’s Future Leaders in Science and Technology – Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

SARATOGA COUNTY Middle school and high school students begin competing this month in the 2020 National Science Bowl, sponsored by the Department of Energy and managed by DOEs Office of Science, leading up to the National Championship in April 2020.

Buzzers, not bells, will ring in the New Year for thousands of middle- and high-school students all across the U.S. That's because they'll soon be pitting their math and science knowledge and their reflexes against one another in regional competitions of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) 30th National Science Bowl (NSB).

Students from Saratoga Springs High School and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School will be participating, among several other schools in the Albany area.

The competitions start this month, with four students from each team facing off in a fast-paced, question-and-answer format. (More information about the date and location of specific regionals can be found through the NSB Homepage). The winning team from each of the 50 middle- and 65 high-school regions will compete in the National Finals, held in Washington, D.C. from April 30 to May 4, 2020. At the Finals, winning teams can score exciting adventure trips to Alaska and national parks across the country to learn first-hand about science in the field, as well as trophies, medals, and supplies for their schools' science departments. But to many, the ultimate prize simply would be the prestige of winning the National Championship.

Each year, the NSB draws more than 14,700 middle- and high-school competitors. More than 305,000 students have faced off in the NSB Finals since the first competition in 1991. The knowledge that former NSB competitors have acquired and more importantly, the habits of study that they've learned along the way have led them to success in a variety of fields. Many have become researchers; others are science and math professors at some of our nation's most prestigious universities.

While those career paths might seem intuitive, the math and science knowledge students need to be successful in the NSB also can lead to successful careers in other fields. The 2020 NSB competitors will follow in the footsteps of previous National Science Bowl contestants, and will blaze a trail for students in science, math and engineering for the next quarter-century.

The National Science Bowl is a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. These teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics, energy, and math. The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl and sponsors the NSB finals competition.

DOE'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, please visit http://www.energy.gov/science.

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Inspiring and Challenging the Nation's Future Leaders in Science and Technology - Saratoga TODAY Newspaper