On February 5, 2011, teams from eighteen high schools throughout the Los Angeles Region congregated at USC for the 11th annual National Ocean Sciences (NOSB) Surf Bowl Regional Competition, hosted by USC’s Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The NOSB competition focuses on marine, ocean, and environmental studies, empowering high school teams to explore the depths of our ocean waters and creating an environment conducive to growth and scientific innovation.
The NOSB was founded in 1999, and approximately 2,000 students representing 300 schools participate in this event annually, battling it out to qualify for the prestigious NOSB finals held in Galveston, TX, in April. The competition comprises a team of 5 individuals who demonstrate their extensive knowledge and rapid reflexes through the simple “lock-out” buzzer system. Students answer questions that cover a plethora of sciences related to the ocean, including biology, chemistry, social sciences, physics, technology, and more.
“This has been such a great learning experience!” Ellie Hara, Captain and senior of Peninsula High School’s Ocean Bowl team, exclaims. “I’m so proud of the entire team, and it never ceases to amaze me to see how much time and effort each member puts into this. We meet once every week, quiz each other using practice buzzers, and teach each other specific, assigned chapters. This definitely is a team effort, and we’ve gotten really close over the past three years!”
“I’m so glad that this opportunity exists for students because so much growth and learning is involved. It’s amazing to see what kinds of students participate in this competition. It’s inspiring. Every single student in this room has so much potential to come up with a major scientific breakthrough in the future. Seeing how much they care about the world and our environment makes me confident that we’re leaving our world in very good hands,” Mr. Chas Lee, the Chemistry Honors/ AP teacher and advisor of the Peninsula team stated.
The Finals Round was intense- people flocked into a large lecture hall, intently watching who would be victorious- Santa Monica or Arcadia High School? Winning with a close margin of two points and congratulated with a roaring applause, Santa Monica triumphed, winning their ticket to advance onto the National competition.
Though only one team could be named the Champion, this event was more than just a competition; all of the students left the USC campus that day, with smiles brimming on their faces. With green canvas tote bags filled with goodies from numerous organizations, the participants, teachers, and parents involved were able to leave with a newfound appreciation for the ocean, perhaps one of the greatest gifts of all.
