Compete in the 2024 virtual Bay Scallop Bowl!
WHEN
- Saturday 2/03/2024, all teams all Saturday;elim rnds Sunday afternoon Rain or shine.
-
Sign up by 12/14/2023
WHAT
Fun and engaging virtual, head-to-head ocean sciences competition for high school students in New York state, featuring a keynote address by Abigail Costigan, a Stony Brook University graduate student studying sustainable fisheries and who is a horseshoe crab advocate.
The Bay Scallop Bowl is hosted by People Making a Difference (PMD) long-time host of the Blue Lobster (MA) and Quahog Bowls (RI & CT), as well as the Maine High School Science Bowl and 2023 Alumni Ocean Sciences Invitational.
WHERE
Virtual/Zoom
Note: We only share zoom links, schedules, and other details with registered teams and volunteers via google sheets since we cannot accommodate any observers/audience members or walk-ins, i.e., unregistered teams or volunteers.
WHY
The NOSB’s focus on ocean science education is important. Humans rely on a healthy ocean for oxygen, resources, jobs, and more. Our future leaders must be knowledgeable about ocean issues.
The ocean is an ideal interdisciplinary teaching tool for science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM) that puts study in a real-world context. Working in the ocean environment poses challenges that push the innovation, engineering, and technology development needed in our workforce. However, ocean science is not a course generally offered at the high school level. The NOSB is one of the only ways students gain exposure to all of ocean science and related careers as they are beginning to chart their course in life.
Science bowls provide high school students with exciting opportunities to test their knowledge and understanding and to practice working together as a team to solve problems.
National Ocean Scholar Program
As part of the NOSB’s continuing effort to recognize individual achievement, NOSB offers the National Ocean Scholar Program, awarding scholarships for tuition assistance to NOSB students who have an interest in pursuing an ocean or environmental science major in their first year of post-high school education. All applicants for this scholarship program must have competed in a regional NOSB competition at least once during their high school careers.
Learn about additional criteria and deadline at https://nosb.org/scholarships
HOW
To apply to compete in this 2024 virtual bowl, coaches must complete a separate Team Intent Form for each one of a high school’s A and (optional) B teams. One form per team AND registration fee payment must be RECEIVED by Thursday, December 14, 2023. Please make checks payable to “People Making a Difference” and send one check per team with form(s) to
Lori Tsuruda/PMD
P.O. Box 120189
Boston, MA 02112-0189
Multiple teams from the same school can combine their forms inside one envelope, but we encourage you to send separate checks for each team in case of wait-listing/refunds. (If express delivery needed, use USPS-delivery only to send to a USPS post office box. Do NOT require a signature. Do NOT use FedEx or UPS since they don’t deliver to post office boxes.)
If we have more interested teams than we can accommodate, we will accept one team (the "A Team") from every school that has applied. If sufficient space remains, we will then accept all secondary teams ("B Teams"). If we cannot accommodate all of the teams in a class (A or B), we will determine competing schools from that class by random drawing of teams whose completed intent forms and checks are received by the 12/14/23 deadline.
Coaches will be notified of their respective teams’ statuses (competing or wait-listed** to compete in case there are cancellations) via email on December 22, 2023.
On 12/22/2023, coaches will also receive the PDF forms and links for consents due 1/18/2024 online in qualtrics and UCAR online.
**We strongly encourage coaches of waitlisted teams to register students online and for coaches and parents/guardians to complete their online consents also by the 1/18/24 deadline, and to prepare to compete fully in case there are last-minute cancellations or we recruit additional volunteers so that we can enlarge this bowl.
Registration Summary
1. Coach submits an INTENT FORM with $50/team for his/her team, to be received by 12/14/2023.
2. Regional Coordinator notifies the coaches of accepted and wait-listed teams and provides forms and links for team members by 12/18/2023.
3. Coach emails completed forms for each team member, (optional)assistant coach, and self for his/her team by 1/18/2024 online.
4. Parents/guardians provide media, and recruitment consents for all students by 1/18/2024 online.
5. Coaches provide their own media consents by 1/18/2024 online.
COST
A non-refundable $50 registration fee per team paid by check* payable to "People Making a Difference" must be sent to PMD, P.O. Box 120189, Boston, MA 02112-0189, RECEIVED by Thursday 12/14/2023. Specify team A or B. If using a personal check, please specify the school name and team A or B.
*Alternatively, payment can be made via PayPal to PMD@pmd.org (Remember to designate your school name and team A or B!) OR via credit card by returning the completed form to PMD by 12/14/2023. Credit card receipts will be automatically emailed to coaches.
RESOURCES
Coach Zoom Meeting on 12/1/2023
Coaches are invited to learn about the virtual competition structure, rules, and technology requirements at 3:30pm on Friday 12/1/2023.
Register for the Coaches' Zoom Meeting: https://makingadifference.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5orxNlg3wmVe01U
WHO
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) is an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education by introducing high school students to and engaging them in ocean science, preparing them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helping them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards.Pre-pandemic, about 2,000 high school students on 350 teams compete in 25 high school regional events.
The Bay Scallop Bowl regional competition for high school students in New York tests their knowledge of the marine sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology as well as enhances public understanding and stewardship of the oceans.
High school teams of four to five students and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach, compete in fast-paced, head-to-head question-and-answer matches using a lock-out buzzer system. Teams also work together to solve longer Team Challenge Questions (TCQs).
Any public, private, or parochial high school or sanctioned home school is welcome to form a team of students in grades 9 through 12 to compete in the virtual 2024 Bay Scallop Bowl on zoom all Saturday February 3, 2024, and for qualifying teams on Sunday February 4, 2024, afternoon.
Competing students must be less than 20 years old on 2/3/2024 or receive a special waiver from the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB).
Cost: $50/team
All participants will receive swag sent to their coaches after the competition takes place.
The winning team and runner-up team of the virtual Bay Scallop Bowl competition will earn trophies and prizes.
People Making a Difference (PMD) is a nonprofit organization that promotes informed and responsible volunteerism by involving people in mostly tangible, hands-on tasks and science bowls that meet local needs and by assisting companies and charities in building successful community involvement programs that:
- Produce appreciable results while conserving recipients' limited resources
- Educate volunteers about broader issues
- Bring people together to make a difference
"Discovery is to see what everybody has seen and think what nobody has thought."
Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (1957)