The 7th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl, organized by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE), was held in Charleston, SC April 25, 26, 2004. Once again the Oceanic Engineering Society was a sponsoring member and presented awards to the 5th through the 8th place winning teams. Twenty-Four high school teams, all winners of regional competitions, compete in the national finals. Each team has four members that compete with other teams in answering questions. Teams practice for months with their coaches to prepare for regional competitions. Questions are presented in “buzzer” rounds (rapid-fire multiple choice or short answer) and the “team challenge”, that gives the students an opportunity to apply their critical thinking skills to questions involving real-time data and cutting edge research and policy issues.
The questions asked are related to ocean biology, chemistry, geology, physics, navigation, geography, and related history, literature and public policy. The teams in the 2004 competition were very well matched in all of the double elimination rounds were required to select the winning teams. IEEE/OES presents four $500.00 awards to the 5th through the 8th team schools for resources for the teams. COL Norman D. Miller presented awards at the Awards Ceremony to Santa Monica High School (5th), Maritime and Science Technology High School, Miami (6th), Maui High School, HI (7th) and Marshfield High School, WI (8th). The teams were most appreciative of the awards and promised to work hard to return next year! If you are interested in checking out your knowledge go to the NOSB Web Site at www.nosb.org and click on “Test Your Ocean Knowledge”.
Norman D. Miller, P.E.
IEEE/OES
Student Activities Coordinator

Left to Right, RADM Richard West (USN, Retired), Shea Chyon, Marshfield High School, Wisconsin, 8th Place, Lake Sturgeon Bowl Caine Jette, Maui High School, Hawaii, 7th Place, Aloha Bowl Zachary Sherman, Maritime and Science Technology High School, Florida 6th Place, Manatee Bowl Matthew Gilbert, Santa Monica High School, 5th Place, Los Angeles Surf Bowl.