Background
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®) is a nationally recognized and highly acclaimed high school academic competition that provides a forum for talented students to test their knowledge of the marine sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology. The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, representing leading oceanographic institutions universities and aquaria, manages the program. The NOSB was created in 1998 in honor of the International Year of the Ocean and since its inception, the competition has grown to include 25 regional competition locations with 300 schools and over 2,000 students participating annually.

The NOSB mission is to enrich science teaching and learning across the United States through a high-profile national competition that increases high school students’ knowledge of the oceans and enhances public understanding and stewardship of the oceans.


When and where are the competitions held?
Each February regional competitions are held at 25 locations across the country. This year the regional competitions will be held on February 7, 2009 and February 21, 2009. Please visit the NOSB Website to find the date of a regional competition near you.

The winners of the 25 regional competitions advance to the Finals competition held in a different location each year. In 2008, the Finals competition was held in Seward, Alaska. For 2009, the Finals Competition will be held in Washington, D.C. on April 25-27, 2009 at the 4H Youth Center and Smithsonian's new Sant Ocean Hall at the Museum of Natural History.