1. “Expanding participation in the NOSB is essential since it plays a critical role in cultivating future leaders in ocean science, management, and education – leaders responsible for ensuring these resources and the benefits they provide will be available for generations to come.” -Admiral James D. Watkins (Ret) Founder, National Ocean Sciences Bowl

2. NOSB Program Overview

3. NOSB: Objectives & Impacts NOSB was initiated in 1998 to: Support International Year of the Ocean and promote ocean literacy Stimulate student interest in the ocean sciences Give students opportunities to examine marine science as a field of study and possible career path Help educators use the oceans as an interdisciplinary vehicle for teaching biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and mathematics

4. Program Structure Consortium for Ocean Leadership NOSB National Office Regional Hosts Regional Coordinator Teacher/Coach ~350/yr Students ~2,000/yr

5. AK – Seward CA – La Jolla CA – Los Angeles CA – San Francisco CO – Boulder CT - Groton DC – Washington FL – Ft. Pierce or Miami FL – St. Petersburg HI – Honolulu MA – Boston ME/NH – Biddeford or Orono/Durham MI – Ann Arbor MS – Biloxi NC – Chapel Hill, Raleigh, or Wilmington NJ – New Brunswick NY – Stony Brook OH/PA – Youngstown/Pittsburgh OR – Corvallis SC/GA – Columbia TX – College Station TX – Corpus Christi VA – Norfolk or Gloucester Point WA – Seattle WI – Milwaukee 25 NOSB Regional Sites

6. NOSB Finals 2008: Seward, Alaska2009: Washington, DC 2010: St Petersburg, Florida 2011: Galveston, TX

7. Competition Overview

8. Team Format Teams consist of 4 competitors, 1 alternate, and a coach. Teams are placed into divisions for a round robin competition. Top teams in each division advance to a double elimination round.

9. Question Format Three Types of Questions: Toss Up (multiple choice) Bonus (usually short answer) Team Challenge Questions (TCQs)

10. Competition Format Competition is made up of rounds One round consists of a: – 6 minute buzzer half – 2 team challenge questions – 6 minute buzzer half

11. Volunteer Roles

12. Officials Teams include: Moderator Science Judge Rules Judge Scorekeeper Timekeeper Room Runner Competition Officials

13. Ocean Bowl Central: - Handing out questions General/Logistics: - Assisting with registration - Building chiefs/assistants Event Staff

14. Moderator Reads the questions to the teams. Verbally recognizes the team member before they respond. Announces whether answer is correct or incorrect. Must be very familiar with the rules and the flow of the game.

15. Science Judge Makes rulings on the acceptability of answers Controls the buzzer system Responds to challenges made by students Passes out, collects, and explains answers to the TCQs

16. Rules Judge Ensures all officials are performing their roles correctly Keeps close eye on scoring Watches the audience for signaling Responsible for room set up and breakdown

17. Scorekeeper Maintains a tally of points for both teams Toss up questions = 4 pts Bonus questions = 6 pts Team Challenge Questions = 20 pts

18. Timekeeper Keeps track of 2 clocks: Game clock for buzzer halves (6 minutes) and TCQs (2-5 minutes) Stopwatch for buzzing in (5 seconds) and answering questions (3 seconds). For bonus questions: 20 seconds to answer.

19. Room Runner Runs TCQs to the Judges’ Appeals room to be graded. Picks up new questions from Ocean Bowl Central between rounds. Answers room needs.

20. Types of Responses from Students Once a question is read by the moderator, the students can respond in three ways, they can either: Wait to be recognized by the moderator before answering Interrupt the reading of the question, be recognized, then answer. Blurt out the answer before being recognized.

21. Scoring Matrix for Toss Ups CORRECTINCORRECT RECOGNIZED +4 pts 0 pts INTERRUPT +4 pts -4 pts BLURT 0 pts 0 pts

22. Kathleen Meehan Coop NOSB Director Allison Byrd & Christine Hodgdon NOSB Program Specialists National Ocean Sciences Bowl www.nosb.org www.nosb.org