ANN ARBOR—Five students from Linworth Alternative Program in Worthington, Ohio; Port Hope School; Sankare Marine Immersion High School in Detroit; Mecosta-Osceola M/S/T Center in Big Rapids; Berrien County Math/Science Center in Berrien Springs; Dexter High School; Groves High School in Beverly Hills; Sterling Heights High School, Huron High School in Ann Arbor; Washtenaw Technical Middle College in Ann Arbor; Chippewa Hills High School in Remus; and Kalamazoo Central High School will be learning about La Nina and other ocean related phenomena as they prepare to test their knowledge of the oceans and how they affect our climate, economic well-being, and quality of life.

They will compete in the Midwest Regional Competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) at the University of Michigan in a head-to-head question and answer format on Feb. 27. The contest is one of 18 regional competitions being held around the country. Winner of each regional earns a paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the NOSB finals in April.

Specific objectives of the Ocean Bowl are to broaden awareness and understanding among high school students of the latest scientific research on the oceans and Great Lakes, and to emphasize the critical role the oceans play in our daily lives. The NOSB also exposes teachers to the value of using the oceans and Great Lakes for science education and provides an opportunity for universities to develop links with high school students.

Michigan Congresswoman Lynn Rivers (D-13th District) will be giving out the awards to the top four teams at the Midwest competition, including cash prizes for the schools and various awards and prizes for the students. Last year’s national winner won an all-expenses-paid trip to Oceans Expo 98 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Ann Arbor event will be co-hosted by NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the Michigan Sea Grant Program, U-M Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research, and the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan.

Nationally, the event is organized by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education and the National Marine Educators Association. For more information about the NOSB and the various regional competitions go to http://core.cast.msstate.edu/NOSBtop.html

For further information on Linworth Alternative Program students,

For further information on Port Hope School students,

For further information on Sankare Marine Immerson High School students,

For further information on Mecosta-Osceola M/S/T Center students,

For further information on Berrien County Math/Science Center students,

For further information on Dexter High School students,

For further information on Groves High School Students,

For further information on Sterling Heights High School students,

For further information on Huron High School students,

For further information on Washtenaw Technical Middle College students,

For further information on Chippewa Hills High School students,

For further information on Kalamazoo Central High School students,

Great Lakes Environmental Research LaboratoryConsortium for Oceanographic Research and Education