Mount Sinai, NY - February 23, 2017 - On Saturday, February 18, students from Mount Sinai High School from Mount Sinai, NY won the Bay Scallop Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB). The Bay Scallop Bowl, which was held at Stony Brook University, is part of a nationwide competition that tests students’ knowledge of ocean science disciplines through buzzer-style, multiple-choice questions and open-ended, team-challenge questions.
The Mount Sinai High School team (which last won the Bay Scallop Bowl in 2015), will join winners from 24 other regional bowls April 20-23 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon for the NOSB Finals. Students on the championship team include Benjamin May (captain), Julia McElheron, Arielle Mule, Johnathan Yu, and Clare Dana. They are coached by Glynnis Nau-Ritter and David Chase (assistant coach).
The NOSB is building our next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, teachers, explorers, researchers, technicians, environmental advocates, and informed citizens by educating them in timely and relevant ocean science topics that are already a part of our future. This year’s theme is Blue Energy: Powering the Planet With Our Ocean. The continuous movement of surface winds, tides, and currents, as well as differences in salinity and temperature, offer a naturally abundant source of energy from the sea that can generate power. Marine renewable energy can be one of the many solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserving our way of life and securing a healthy and productive ocean for the generations to come.
“We’re thrilled to have kicked off our 20th year of competitions,” said Kristen Yarincik, Director of the NOSB at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. “It is the high quality and caliber of participating students, coaches, and volunteers who make this program possible – this year and for the last 19 – and I look forward to seeing all of our finalists in Oregon.”
For more information about NOSB, visit www.nosb.org.
About National Ocean Sciences Bowl
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) is a program of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership based in Washington, D.C. Now in its 20th year, the NOSB seeks to interest students in pursuing a college degree and future career in the ocean sciences. Through this educational forum, the NOSB strives to encourage and support the next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, teachers, explorers, researchers, technicians, environmental advocates and informed citizens, to consider and appreciate the ocean. Most high school students do not have the opportunity to study ocean science as part of their formal coursework, which makes the NOSB one of the only ways students gain exposure to this field. Many past NOSB participants have moved on to pursue college degrees and careers in ocean science, helping to solve the growing environmental, economic and security issues facing our ocean and planet.
About Consortium for Ocean Leadership
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL) is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit organization that represents the leading public and private ocean research education institutions, aquaria, and industry with the mission to shape the future of ocean science and technology. In addition to its advocacy role as the voice of the ocean research and technology community, COL manages a variety of community-wide research and education programs in areas of ocean observing, ocean exploration, and ocean partnerships.