Many of our country’s future scientists, engineers and mathematicians recently put their knowledge to the test during this year’s U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) Regional Science Bowl® Competition, which attracted 24 teams from across South Carolina and the greater Augusta, Ga. area.

This year’s winning team from Southside High School, Greenville, S.C., has earned an all-expense paid trip to the National Competition to be held in Washington, D.C., April 25-29. A part of the country’s largest science tournament, the national event also offers several days of hands-on science activities, seminars and sightseeing.

South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, Hartsville, S.C., came in second, while third place was achieved by Greenbrier High School, Augusta, Ga.

During the day-long event, tension and excitement filled the rooms within the University of South Carolina Aiken facility where competing teams listened carefully to questions, hands ready to buzz-in, knowing every correct answer is one step closer to representing their school and region at the national level.

The format used is similar to the television show “Jeopardy,” where teams face-off during a timed period of fast-paced question-and-answers. Questions cover a wide range of academic disciplines including biology, chemistry, energy, math, physics, earth and space science.

Science Bowl teams consist of four students, an alternate and a teacher who serves as an advisor and
coach. This year’s regional contest involved 120 students from 16 high schools and is the only academic competition of its kind that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and is sponsored by a Federal agency.

According to Kim Mitchell, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Education Outreach, this competition tests the students’ ability to perform quickly and confidently under pressure. “Practice is always a critical part of their preparation,” she said. “However, teamwork, along with superior academic performance, makes a difference as to who succeeds.”

Mitchell also noted that teams frequently depend on the academic strength of each member during this demanding academic contest. “One member may be their math specialist, while another is their go-to person for questions related to chemistry or earth science,” she added.

SRS is one of only four DOE sites to have participated each year at the regional level since the start of
the Science Bowl competition.  Nicholas Lowe, a senior at Greenbrier High School who plans to pursue a degree in environmental engineering, stated the event quickly shows you just how little knowledge each of us possesses. “It’s really fun to learn about random chemistry or physics facts that you‘d normally not hear about,” said Lowe. “Not even with the monetary prizes for first, second or third, it’s rewarding to see people you know and meet new people that you can compete with and afterward still be friends with.”

“We’ve had a really great time,” added Aiken High School junior Mason Collins. “It’s really wild seeing
the contrast in how each team works. You have to be fast on the buzzer and pull that information from your brain as fast as possible.”

DOE created the National Science Bowl (NSB) in 1991 to encourage students to excel in mathematics
and science and to pursue careers in these fields. Approximately 300,000 students have participated in the NSB throughout its 29-year history.

Volunteers from the community and multiple contractors at SRS work as scorekeepers, timers, judges
and many other important functions during the regional tournament each year. “We greatly appreciate their help,” said Mitchell. “This event could not be held without their support.”

SRS provides a variety of science and literacy outreach programs to reach tens of thousands of students each year.

The primary goals of these outreach programs are to enhance interest in science, mathematics, engineering and technology and to support improvements in education in the Central Savannah River Area by using the unique resources available at SRS.

Participating Schools

Each school may enter multiple teams

Aiken High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aiken . . . . . . . . South Carolina

Augusta Preparatory Day School . . .Martinez . . . . . . Georgia

D. W. Daniel High School . . . . . . . .Central . . . . . . . South Carolina

Davidson Magnet School . . . . . . . .Augusta . . . . . . Georgia

Evans Christian Academy . . . . . . . .Evans . . . . . . . . Georgia

Evans High School . . . . . . . . . . . .Grovetown . . . . Georgia

Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hartsville . . . . . South Carolina

Greenbrier High School . . . . . . . . .Evans . . . . . . . . Georgia

Grovetown High School . . . . . . . . .Grovetown . . . . Georgia

Lakeside High School . . . . . . . . . .Evans . . . . . . . . Georgia

Lowcountry Preparatory School . . . .Pawleys Island . South Carolina

Nation Ford High School . . . . . . . .Fort Mill . . . . . . South Carolina

North Augusta High School . . . . . .North Augusta . . South Carolina

Southside High School . . . . . . . . .Greenville . . . . . South Carolina

Westminster Schools of Augusta . . .Augusta . . . . . . Georgia

Westside High School . . . . . . . . . .Augusta . . . . . . Georgia