EVENT: Twenty-two teams of young scientists from Southern California high schools will gather Saturday, March 8, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the regional semifinal competition of the National Science Bowl, a quiz-show-like tournament of scientific knowledge.
ANGLE: These students represent the finest science and mathematics talent in Los Angeles County and beyond, all vying to be named the region's best and brightest. Each of the high schools, located from the Antelope Valley to Irvine, will be represented by a team of four students and an alternate. The winning team and its coach will go on to the finals this spring at the 4-H Center near Washington, D.C., all expenses paid.
Modeled after the old "College Bowl" television show of the 1960s, the competition was first organized by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1991. It starts with a round-robin event in which every team plays five rounds, followed by a double-elimination tournament for the high scorers.
Participating high schools include: Alhambra High School; Arcadia High School; Charter Oak in Covina; Crescenta Valley in La Crescenta; Diamond Bar High School; Downey and Warren High Schools in Downey; Glendora High School; Hoover High School in Glendale; Lakewood High School; Littlerock in the Antelope Valley; Monrovia High School; John Muir and Pasadena High Schools in Pasadena; Redondo Union High School; South and West Torrance High Schools; South Hills and West Covina High Schools in West Covina; and University and Woodbridge High Schools in Irvine.
Sponsors include the Doubletree Hotel, Foothill Trophy, McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Pasadena Water and Power Department and Service America, along with JPL, NASA and the Department of Energy. The L.A. Unified School District held its own regional competition last week; its winning team will also go on to the national finals.
WHERE: von Karman Auditorium, JPL, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena WHEN: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PHOTO OPP: JPL Director Edward Stone presents awards to the winners at approximately 3:15 p.m. (later if there's a tie) PARKING: Check in at the guard gate for directions (prior permission is not necessary) PRESS CONTACT: John G. Watson, JPL Public Information Office, (818) 354-5011
818-354-5011