The Wyoming Regional Science Bowl was held in Casper Feb. 2. After a day of tough competition, Star Valley emerged as the first place team in the state.

According to Jim Nation, public relations specialist for the bowl, the state’s competition is one of 64 regional competitions held nationwide. The academic competition is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Department of Energy. At the state level the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center in Casper hosts the event.

“Science Bowl provides Wyoming high school teams (four students plus one alternate per team) the opportunity to show off their knowledge of all things science,” said Nations. “The quiz format includes questions in Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Earth Science, General Science and Astronomy.”

n addition to some individual prizes, the first place team also is awarded an all-expense paid trip to the National Science Bowl for High School. This year the national bowl will take place in Washington, D.C., May 1-6.

According to Science Bowl Coordinator Kari Skalicky, it is great to see “a team from one of our smaller schools do so well.”
“This is a very tough competition,” Skalicky said. “Since the question are drawn from the areas of  Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Earth Science, General Science and Astronomy, teams are made up of a wide age range of students.”

According to Nations, the state competition came “right down to the last question in the championship round.”

Star Valley edged out Kelly Walsh by a score of 40-32. Kelly Walsh had the opportunity to answer the last question of the bowl, a question worth enough points to move the score into that school’s favor. When they missed the question, Star Valley’s team was proclaimed the winner.

“The winning teams from around the country will arrive in Washington on Thursday, May 1 and take a guided bus tour of the national monuments that evening,” said Skalicky. “On Friday morning the teams will have the day to tour the National Mall and visit the many exciting museums there. Saturday is filled with presentations and activities and then the competition takes place on Sunday.

The awards ceremony for the top 16 teams is held Monday and all participants are then invited to a Congressional reception. It is an absolutely wonderful trip.”

 

 Science Team Part 1: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Science Team Part 2: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download