The NOAA CREST Center continues to
sponsor the Bronx High School of Science
team that competed in the NOAA Ocean
Science Bowl Regional Competition at
Stony Brook University, Long Island New
York. This year the competition was held
on February 10, 2007. Sponsorship of this
team provides NOAA CREST with an
ongoing presence at BHSS and the
opportunity of getting to know their
science teachers who frequently
recommend various colleges and
universities to the students in their classes
preparing to go to college.

Since about 97% of the students that graduate from BHSS
choose to enroll in engineering and science programs when they enter college, creating
awareness of the opportunities available to them at CCNY is a valuable means of
increasing enrollment among this high achieving group of minority students.

In the 2007 regional competition at
Stony Brook University, the BHSS
team placed 5th among the 24 teams.
The team was composed of all
minority students, making it
somewhat unique in this type of
event. Having gained experience in
this type of competition, the BHSS
team, which was composed primarily
of sophomores and juniors, has a
good chance of doing better next
year.

The Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education CORE, representing leading
oceanographic institutions universities and aquaria, manages a national academic
competition for high schools on topics related to the study of the oceans -- the National
Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®). The NOSB was first conducted in the winter and spring
of 1998 in honor of the International Year of the Ocean. Past prizes have included trips to
Southampton Oceanography Centre in England; Wrigley Institute for Environmental
Studies on Catalina Island, California; the Florida Keys; the Great Lakes Field Station;
cruises on research vessels; visits to oceanographic institutions and aquaria; scholarships;
scientific equipment and books.
This competition is intended to increase knowledge of the oceans on the part of high
school students, their teachers and parents, as well as to raise the visibility and public
understanding of the national investment in ocean-related research. Specific objectives of
the National Ocean Sciences Bowl are to:
Broaden students' and teachers' awareness of the latest scientific research on the
oceans and the critical impact of the oceans on global climate and weather, economic
well-being, history and culture;
Help teachers use the oceans as an interdisciplinary vehicle for teaching biology,
chemistry, geology, physics, and mathematics by giving them access to marine
science education and scientific professionals;
Give oceanographic research programs the opportunity to develop new links with
their local pre-college community and open student’s eyes to ocean-related career
options; and
Reach out to new students and communities to boost participation by populations
under-represented in the ocean sciences.

The Bronx H.S. of Science team finished third
out of 16 and in the money. The team actually
finished 1 point out of second with a shot for first
but the team that beat us made a last
second random guess at an answer and beat
them with less than ten seconds remaining. The
team was honored on the podium and each
student received a prize of $500 from the
regional competition

Two members would be returning with
experience for 2005 competition and some more
brilliant students would be recruited from BHSS
to join them. Contacts with two new NYC
schools at the competition, Midwood
High in Bklyn and Murray Bartram High in
Manhattan have been established. The
team will continue their association with St
Ann’s in Bklyn as well. Their teachers said
they would be wiling to participate in a
minibowl scrimmage for next year. This
way they could all expand the scope of
NYC outreach through CREST.