High school teams from across the Volunteer State are eligible to compete in the annual Tennessee Science Bowl Feb. 24 at the Pellissippi State Community College campus in Blount County.
Thirty-two teams composed of science and math students from 23 schools competed in last year's Science Bowl. Competition coordinator Marie Westfall said the bulk of competition will be conducted in a quiz-bowl format.
"We're trying to encourage students to be more actively involved in science and math in a fun way, as well as a scholarly way," Westfall said. "This also gives them an opportunity to meet other students from across the state who are also as interested in science and math as they are, and have a great time."
More than 200 volunteers are needed to help at the competition in all types of ways.
"We use volunteers as moderators, scientific judges, rules judges, time keepers, score keepers, registration and crowd control," Westfall said. "Some of these require specific scientific backgrounds, such as scientific judges and moderators. All the others don't, so anyone who is available can volunteer."
The Science Bowl's primary sponsors are the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Pellissippi State and the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Other organizations or individuals interested in helping with sponsorships -- as well as additional information about the Science Bowl -- may contact Westfall at 865-576-3425 (Marie.Westfall@orau.org)
ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy.