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National Middle School Science Bowl

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The National Middle School Science Bowl is a middle school academic competition, similar to Quiz Bowl, held in the United States. Two teams of four students each compete to answer various science-related questions. In order to determine which student has the right to answer the question, a buzzer system (or "lockout system") is used, similar to those seen on popular television game shows such as Jeopardy!. The National Middle School Science Bowl (" NMSSB") has been organized and sponsored by the United States Department of Energy since the competition's inception in 2002.

Subject areas

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Questions are asked in the categories of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Energy (dealing with DOE research), Mathematics, and Physics.[1]

Before the 2010 year, there was no Energy category, and Earth and Space Science was called Earth Science. The General Science category was dropped in 2017.

Regional competitions

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Each year, in late April or early May, the National Science Bowl competition is held in Chevy Chase, Maryland in the National 4-H Youth Conference Center.

The winning team of each regional Science Bowl competition is invited to participate in the National Science Bowl all expenses paid. There are a number of regional competitions all over the United States; the exact amount changes from year to year.

Typically, any middle school that meets the eligibility rules of the National Middle School Science Bowl competition is permitted to register for any regional competition in the country, but no middle school or student group may compete in multiple regionals. In addition, some regional competitions permit schools to register up to three teams. Teams composed entirely of homeschooled students are also permitted to enter.

Rules

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General rules

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A team consists of 4 or 5 students from a single school. Only 4 students play at any one time, while the 5th is designated as the alternate. Substitutions and switching captains may occur at halftime and between rounds. Two teams compete against each other in each match. Each team member is given a number A1, A Captain, A2, A3, B1, B Captain, B2, B3, according to the position each student sits in. In regional competitions, each round consists of 23 questions (that is, 23 toss-ups and 23 corresponding bonuses). At the National Finals, each round consists of 25 questions. The match is over when all the toss-up questions have been read (and any bonuses related to correctly answered toss-ups), or after two halves have elapsed, whichever occurs first. The team with the most points at this time is the winner. At the regional level, all matches consist of two 8-minute halves, separated by a 2-minute break. At the national level for middle schools, all matches consist of two 10-minute halves. A toss-up/bonus cycle that is begun before time expires in a half will be finished under the usual rules before the half ends. A question officially begins once its subject area is completely read.

Toss-ups

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Every match begins with a toss-up question. The moderator announces the subject of the question (see "Subject Areas" above), as well as its type (Multiple Choice or Short Answer). Once the moderator completes the reading of the question, students have 5 seconds to buzz in and give an answer. Students may buzz in at any time after the category has been read—there is no need to wait for the moderator to finish. However, there is a penalty for interrupting the moderator and giving an incorrect answer. After buzzing in, a student must wait for an official to verbally recognize them by saying their team and number; otherwise it is considered a blurt, resulting in the answer being ignored and the team being disqualified from answering the toss-up. Upon recognition, the student must give their response within a natural pause (up to 2 seconds); otherwise it is considered a stall and ruled incorrect. If a student buzzes in and answers incorrectly, that student's team may not buzz in again on that question, and the opposing team (if still eligible to answer) gets another 5 seconds to buzz in. Quiet nonverbal communication (e.g. in writing or by hand signals) among team members is allowed on toss-ups, but audible communication or mouthing words is not permitted and will disqualify the team from answering the toss-up.

An answer given by a student is ruled correct or incorrect by the moderator. On short answer questions, if the answer given differs from the official one, the moderator uses his or her judgment to make a ruling (which is subject to a challenge by the competitors). On multiple choice questions, students may give the letter answer (W, X, Y, or Z) or the verbal answer. A verbal answer on a multiple choice question is only correct if it matches the official answer exactly. However, when the choices are mathematical expressions that would be conventionally written in symbols, common alternate expressions of the answer shall be accepted. For example, “square root of 2” and “square root 2” would both be accepted.

Bonuses

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If a student answers a toss-up question correctly, that student's team receives a bonus question. The bonus question is always in the same category as the corresponding toss-up question, though it may not always relate to the toss-up question. Since only one team has the opportunity to answer the bonus question, there is no need to buzz in to answer it. After the moderator finishes reading the question, the team has 20 seconds to answer. The timekeeper will give a 5-second warning when 5 seconds remain. Conferring between team members is permitted, but the team captain must give the team's final answer.

The same rules apply to the judging of responses to bonus questions as apply to responses to toss-up questions. Once the team's answer has been ruled right or wrong, the moderator proceeds to the next toss-up question.

If neither team answers the toss-up question correctly, the bonus question is not read, and the moderator proceeds to the next toss-up question.

Scoring

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Correct responses to toss-up questions are worth 4 points each, and correct responses to bonus questions are worth 10 points each.

If a student buzzes in on a toss-up question before the moderator has completely read the question (i.e., interrupts the moderator) and answers incorrectly (or a blurt or audible communication from the interrupting team occurs), then 4 points are awarded to the opposing team, and the question is re-read in its entirety so that the opposing team has an opportunity to buzz in. Should the opposing team interrupt during the rereading of the question and subsequently incur a penalty as in the previous rule, then 4 points are added to the first team's score, and the moderator proceeds to the next toss-up question.

Challenges

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Challenges must be made before the moderator begins reading the next question, or 3 seconds after the last question of the half or game. Only the 4 actively competing members may challenge. The fifth team member, coach, and others associated with a team may not become involved in challenges or their discussion. However, beginning in 2020, anyone in the competition room can make the officials aware of scoring or clock management errors, these are known as corrections rather than challenges.

Challenges may be made either to scientific content or the administration of rules. They may not be made to judgment calls by the officials, such as whether a buzz was an interrupt, whether 20 seconds have passed before beginning to answer a bonus, or whether a stall or blurt has happened. Challenges to scientific content are limited to 2 unsuccessful challenges per round. Successful challenges do not count against this limit. Each team has unlimited challenges to administration of rules.

Competition format

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This section is concerned with the format of the national competition only. As is the case with competition rules, the competition format varies greatly among the different regional competitions.

The national competition always consists of two stages: round robin and double elimination.

Round robin

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All competing teams are randomly arranged into eight round robin groups of six teams each. Every team plays every other team in its group once, receiving 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and zero points for a loss. The top four teams in each group make it into double elimination.

Tiebreaks

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In the event that two or more teams are tied for one of the top four spots in a round robin group, there are several tiebreak procedures, applied in the following order:

  1. The head-to-head record of all the tied teams is compared. If this separates a group of two or more teams from the rest of the tied teams, the head-to-head record will be reapplied in the smaller group.
  2. If the top four teams cannot be determined using head-to head records, the following procedures are used:
    • If more than two teams are still tied, each team is placed in a separate room and is read five toss-up questions. The number of questions answered correctly minus the number answered incorrectly determines each team's score. The team(s) with the highest score win(s) the tiebreak.
    • If exactly two teams are still tied, the two teams compete head-to-head, receiving five toss-up questions (no bonus questions are used). All the usual toss-up rules are in effect, including the interrupt penalty. The team with the higher score wins the tiebreak.

If a tie still exists after the second tiebreak step, the second step is reapplied until the tie is resolved.

Double elimination

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Starting in 2020, 32 teams advance from the round robin (as opposed to approximately 16 in prior years). The competition then proceeds like a typical double elimination tournament bracket. Unlike in the round robin, a match in double elimination cannot be tied. If a match is tied at the end of regulation, overtime periods of five questions each are played until the tie is broken.

Sponsors

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Several companies and organizations sponsor the National Middle School Science Bowl competition, the most prominent being the United States Department of Energy. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory sponsors NMSSB, and General Motors is also a regular sponsor of the event and has in recent years sponsored the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car competition held at NMSSB, where teams compete to build the fastest or most powerful fuel cell-powered miniature car.

Results at the national competition

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2024

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Academic competition

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2023

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Academic competition

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2022

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Academic competition

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2021

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Academic competition

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2020

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Academic competition

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2019

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Academic competition

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Cyber Challenge

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2018

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Academic competition

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Cyber Challenge

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  • First Place: ?
  • Second Place: ?
  • Third Place: Centennial Middle School (Provo, Utah)

2017

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Academic competition

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2016

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Academic competition

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2015

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Academic competition

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2014

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Academic competition

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  • First Place: Greater Boston Science & Math
  • Second Place: JDroids Science Club
  • Third Place: Takoma Park Middle School
  • Fourth Place: Science Infinity Club

Electric Car Competition

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2013

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Academic competition

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Electric Car competition

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2012

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In 2012, the top 4 teams in both the academic competition and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Competition were:[5]

Academic competition

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car competition

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Lithium Ion Car race
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Design Document
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  • First Place: Trinity Junior High School

2011

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The top placing teams in the academic competition held in 2011 were:[6]

Academic competition

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car competition

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Fuel Cell Car race
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  • First Place: Blake Middle School
  • Second Place: Paducah Middle School
  • Third Place: Ingomar Middle School
  • Fourth Place: Albuquerque Academy
Design Document
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  • First Place: Home Schools of Eastern Iowa

2010

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In 2009, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the solar car competition. There were two parts to the solar car competition: the actual race and the design document contest. 37 teams competed in the Nationals for the middle school.

Academic competition

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Solar Car competition

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Solar Car race
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  • First Place: St. Christopher's
  • Second Place: Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School
  • Third Place: West Lafayette Science Club
Design Document
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  • First Place: Will James Middle School

2009

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In 2009, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the hydrogen fuel cell car competition. There were two parts to the fuel cell competition: the actual race and the design document contest. For the first time, these competitions were held in Chevy Chase, Maryland, instead of in Colorado. 36 teams competed in the Nationals for the middle school.

Academic competition

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Hydrogen fuel cell car competition

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Fuel cell car race
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Design Document
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2008

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In 2008, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the hydrogen fuel cell car competition. For the first time this year, the fuel cell car competition was divided into three parts: the fuel cell car race, a presentation on hydrogen, and a design document/presentation to be shown to judges at the event. A total of 36 teams competed.

Academic competition

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Hydrogen fuel cell car competition

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Fuel cell car Overall
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Fuel cell car race
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Hydrogen presentation
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2007

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In 2007, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the hydrogen fuel cell car competition.

Academic competition

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Hydrogen fuel cell car competition

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2006

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In 2006, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the hydrogen fuel cell car competition.

Academic competition

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Hydrogen fuel cell car competition

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2005

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In 2005, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the hydrogen fuel cell car competition.

Academic competition

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Hydrogen fuel cell car competition

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2004

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In 2004, there were three competitions: the academic competition, the hydrogen fuel cell car competition (stock class), and the hydrogen fuel cell car competition (open class).

Academic competition

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The top three teams at the 2004 National Middle School Science Bowl Academic Competition were

Hydrogen fuel cell car competition (stock class)

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Hydrogen fuel cell car competition (open class)

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2003

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In 2003, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the solar car competition.

Academic competition

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Solar car competition

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2002

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In 2002, there were two competitions: the academic competition and the solar car competition.

Academic competition

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Solar car competition

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Science Bowl® Official Academic Competition Rules" (PDF). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. ^ "NSB Past Middle School National ... | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)". science.osti.gov. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Middle School Double Elimination Results". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Middle School Electric Car Results". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Office of Science".
  6. ^ DOE's Dr. Brinkman and Secretary Chu Honor National Science Bowl Winners
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