Compete in the 2027 virtual Sponge Bowl!
WHEN
- Saturday 3/20/2027 - Sunday 3/21/2027, all teams all Saturday&elim rnds SundayAfternoonET
-
Sign up by 1/15/2027
WHAT
Fun and engaging virtual, head-to-head ocean sciences competition for teams of high school students living in states without National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) regional bowls taking place in 2026. Teams will receive swag, and top teams will receive trophies, shipped after this competition takes place. This bowl will feature a keynote speaker (tba) on 3/20/2027.
The 2026-2027 NOSB theme is "From Source to Sea: Understanding Marine Debris." Marine debris is a persistent pollution problem that reaches throughout the entire ocean and the Great Lakes. Students will explore the origins, movement patterns, impacts, solutions, and eventual fate of marine debris through an interdisciplinary and holistic lens. The theme influences competition questions, professional development webinars, regional enhancement activities, and other special events. Teams can expect at least one theme-related question in every round. Themes are chosen based on input from students, coaches, and volunteers in our post-regional bowl surveys. Dive into theme resources.
The Sponge Bowl is hosted by People Making a Difference (PMD), host of the 2025 & 2024 virtual Sponge Bowl, long-time host of the Blue Lobster Bowl (MA+), 2024 Bay Scallop (NY) & Shore (NJ) Bowls, and 2021 & 2022 Quahog Bowls (CT&RI), as well as the 2023, 2024 & 2026 Maine High School Science Bowls and 2023 Alumni Ocean Sciences Invitational (AOSI).
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.
The 2027 virtual Sponge Bowl is being held to provide competition opportunities for high school students without nearby regional bowls.
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 (or a Sponge Bowl) 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 2027 virtual bowl, coaches must complete a separate Team Intent Form for their high school's sole team. One form and the $75 registration fee per team must be emailed/POSTMARKED by Friday, January 15, 2027. 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
If using a personal check, please specify the school name. OR use free ACH(bank transfer) to send payment, specifying school name, complete school address, and "Sponge Bowl" as "Reason for payment" since this will automatically generate your emailed receipt.
We can also accept credit card payments that ADD 2.9% processing fees at https://pmd.nickelpayments.com
Accounts payable offices can download PMD's Form W-9 if they need it.
Hardcopy forms and check payments must be postmarked no later than 1/15/2027.
We strongly encourage coaches to email a scan of their Team Intent form to to Ltsuruda at gmail dot com in case there are postal delays, regardless of payment method, since neither PMD nor NOSB can be responsible for any mailing delays.
If we have more interested teams than we can accommodate, we will determine competing schools by Team Intent Form and payment postmark/email date-If they are not the same date, we will go by the later date since that's when the application was completed with BOTH. If sent on the same date, then we will use random drawing of those teams.
Coaches will be notified of their respective teams' statuses (competing or wait-listed* to compete in case there are cancellations) via email by January 19, 2027.
By 1/29/2027 at the latest, coaches will also receive the PDF forms and data entry (google form) link for registrations and consents due by 11:59pm ET on 2/12/2027 online.
Coaches must complete coach and online data entry for at least four students but ideally five; and upload their SIGNED (We canNOT accept typed names in lieu of real signatures!) consent forms by 2/12/2027. New: Coaches may subsequently change students, team captains, and upload more signed consent forms BEFORE 3/13/2027.
*We strongly encourage coaches of waitlisted teams to register students online and for coaches and parents/guardians to complete their online releases/consents also by the deadline, and to prepare to compete fully in case there are last-minute cancellations like in 2026.
Registration Summary
1. Coach submits a completed Sponge Bowl Team Intent form AND $75/team registration fee, emailed and postmarked by 1/15/2027.
2. Regional Coordinator notifies the coaches of accepted and wait-listed teams and provides student and coach PDF forms and data entry links by 1/29/2027.
3. Coach uploads completed consents for each team member (at least four), (optional)assistant coach, and self into one file for their team by 2/12/2027 AND enters required data online in NOSB's google form.
4. Coach may edit team students, team captains, and upload more signed consent forms BEFORE 3/13/2027. COST
$75 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, postmarked by Friday 1/15/2027. If using a personal check, please specify the school name.
*Alternatively, use free ACH(bank transfer) to send payment, specifying school name, complete school address, and competition name since this will generate your receipt.
We can also accept credit card payments that ADD 2.9% processing fees at https://pmd.nickelpayments.com
Accounts payable offices can download PMD's Form W-9 if they need it.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS
Coaches of teams that must cancel their participation should do so as soon as possible by emailing Ltsuruda at gmail dot com. If a coach cancels their team's participation by 1/22/2027, their team's registration fee will be refunded minus $6 for fees & handling. No registration fee refunds can be made after 1/22/27, if a coach fails to complete the required online registrations and consents and upload SIGNED and completed forms for at least 4 students themselves by 2/12/27, and/or any team member does not participate in all of their 3/20&21/27 assigned competition activities.
RESOURCES
- 2027 Virtual Sponge Bowl Rules 09/29/2026
- Forming a Team
- Sample Questions & Study Resources-updated 09/2026
Zoom Office Hours, 2-6pm ET
Coaches/teachers, NOT parents or students, are invited to have their questions answered during zoom office hours on Wednesdays 9/30, 10/14-28, 1/6&13, 2/10&17. The zoom link is also at bottom of the first page of the Team Intent Form.
If unavailable during office hours, coaches should call PMD's office at *82,1-781-963-0373 and provide their upcoming availability and preferred contact method.
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 Virtual Sponge Bowl regional competition for high school students without nearby regional bowls 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/adult 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 that (requirement was added in 2026) practices together* for at least one month is welcome to form a team of students in grades 9 through 12 to compete in the 2027 virtual Sponge Bowl in zoom all Saturday March 20, 2027, and for qualifying teams on Sunday March 21, 2027, afternoon (Eastern Time).
Competing students must be less than 20 years old on 3/20/2027 or receive a special waiver from the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB).
Cost: $75/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 Sponge Bowl competition will earn trophies.
Assuming that it is viable, the Sponge Bowl championship team will qualify to compete in the 2027 NOSB virtual National Finals competition.
*This requirement was added since students who did not practice together were at too much of disadvantage when competing against students who regularly conferred and discussed bonus and Team Challenge Questions (TCQs) when answering.
Teams Registered to Compete: alphabetically, as of 10/16/2026
- Midwood High School (NY)
- Produce appreciable results while conserving recipients' limited resources
- Educate volunteers about broader issues
- Bring people together to make a difference
"Be an information sponge. Absorb the knowledge. Soak in the insight!"
Futurist Jim Carroll
"SpongeBob lives at the bottom of the sea, but he brings a lot of great stuff to the surface..... I do think that the attitude of the show is about tolerance. Everybody is different, and the show embraces that. The character SpongeBob is an oddball. He's kind of weird, but he's kind of special."
Stephen Hillenburg