University of Alaska Fairbanks SCHOOL OF FISHERIES AND OCEAN SCIENCES  
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SFOS Newsletter
Spring 2007

NOSB to hit Seward in 2008

UAF to host national finals of ocean sciences bowl

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl, a high school ocean science competition, will be hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks on April 25-27, 2008 in Seward, Alaska.

The NOSB is a quiz bowl style academic competition for high school students in topics related to the study of the oceans. It provides an educational forum for students who excel in math and science to receive national recognition for their diligence and talents. The competition is managed by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education.

The national competition has been held in various locations across the contiguous United States, but never in Alaska.

“Having this event in Seward will allow talented students who are interested in marine science to come on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska,” said Denis Wiesenburg, dean of the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

“It’s really the ideal place to hold this competition, since Alaska has half the U.S. coastline and the largest fishery in the world,” Wiesenburg added.

High school students compete in 25 regional NOSB competitions across the United States, including Alaska. The winning five-member team from each region receives an expenses-paid trip to the NOSB final competition. This year, the NOSB finals are being held in Stony Brook, New York.

The 2008 NOSB national finals will bring over 250 volunteers, students, judges, and family members from around the nation to Seward. Students will take an educational train ride from Anchorage to Seward. After their arrival in Seward, event competitors can tour the Kenai Fjords National Park on a chartered tour boat, receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the Alaska SeaLife Center or hike to Exit Glacier. The day-long competition will take place on Saturday, April 26.

Alaska’s regional NOSB, the Tsunami Bowl, has been held in Seward in February for the past nine years. Phyllis Shoemaker, the regional event coordinator and Seward Marine Center staff member, will share leadership of the 2008 national finals with SFOS assistant professor Dean Stockwell.

2008 will be the 10th anniversary of the NOSB. The National Ocean Sciences Bowl was established in 1998 to encourage learning about the oceans and increase the teaching of ocean sciences in high schools. If you would like to volunteer or help support this event, please contact Denis Wiesenburg, dean of the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, e-mail wiesenburg@sfos.uaf.edu.