High school and middle school teams nationwide can now sign up to compete in one of the nation’s most prestigious and largest academic science competitions

Washington, D.C. – Registration is open for the 33rd National Science Bowl® (NSB), hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. Thousands of students compete in the contest annually as it has grown into one of the largest academic math and science competitions in the country.

Teams of students – four or five students and a teacher who serves as a coach – can sign up to participate in the NSB by registering with the coordinator for their regional competition. Details can be found on the NSB registration page. The competition is divided into two categories: high school and middle school. Regional competitions typically last one or two days and take place throughout the country between January and March.

During the competitions, students participate in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. To prepare, teams can use sample questions from the NSB website.

The winning team from each qualifying regional competition will be eligible to compete in the National Finals held in Washington, D.C., from April 27 to May 1, 2023, with all expenses paid. The national event consists of several days of science activities and sightseeing, along with the competitions.

“I am proud to announce the start of this year’s National Science Bowl® competitions,” said Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, DOE Office of Science Director. “Every year this remarkable event brings together students across America who have a passion for science and learning. Good luck to all the competitors; you are the innovators, scientists, and leaders of our future.”

The top two middle and high school teams will win $5000 for their schools’ math and science departments. Other schools placing in the top 16 in the National Finals will win $1,000 for their schools’ science departments.  

Approximately 335,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl® in its 32-year history. Each year, more than 14,000 students compete in the NSB.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl® and sponsors the NSB finals competition. More information is available on the NSB website: https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb.