Let’s face it, Science Bowl isn’t about trophies (although those are cool).

It’s about the thrill of the buzzer, the satisfaction of nailing a tough question, and crushing your opponents with pure scientific knowledge.

But between you and the national championship, there are some hurdles to jump.

This guide will break down exactly how to transform your team from a scrappy bunch to Science Bowl champions.

What is the National Science Bowl The National Science Bowl (NSB), coordinated by the U.

S.

Department of Energy, is an annual academic competition held within the United States.

It tests the knowledge of middle and high school students across a broad spectrum of STEM disciplines.

These disciplines include biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and mathematics.

Unlike traditional, temporally-restricted assessments, the NSB employs a dynamic question-and-answer format modeled after quiz bowl competitions.

This approach fosters rapid recall under pressure, creating a unique and engaging competitive environment.

If you are someone who works well under short-term pressure, this is a great competition to partake in.

The National Science Bowl has been held annually since 1991, with regional tournaments leading up to the national finals.

Note to many-time readers of this blog: If you have read my guide on the physics segment of the science bowl, you should skip to the section titled “Biology Study Resources“.

The sections before that are information that don’t pertain to a particular section of the competition but are important to understand in order to have a good chance at doing well.

Steps to Participate To qualify for the National Science Bowl, teams must first compete in regional competitions.

Here’s a general outline of the process: Form a Team: Teams are typically composed of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach.

Register: Coaches must register their teams for a regional competition.

Registration usually opens in the fall for the following year’s competition.

Compete in Regionals: Regional competitions take place across the country, usually starting in January.

The winning team from each regional competition advances to the national finals.

Advance to Nationals: The National Finals are held in Washington, D.

C. , where teams from all over the country compete for the title.

When you intend to register for the competition, it’s best to refer to the official National Science Bowl resources provided by the U.

S.

Department of Energy so that you can ensure that all your information is fully up-to-date.

However, that website is challenging to navigate.

The information in this blog guide is fully up-to-date as of March 202

4. Tournament Structure Rounds: There is a series of rounds in science bowl matches that include both toss-up questions and bonus questions.

This applies in both the case of regionals and nationals.

Toss-Up Questions: These are multiple-choice questions open to both teams.

The first team to buzz in gets the chance to answer.

If they answer correctly, they earn points and the opportunity to answer a bonus question.

Bonus Questions: These are typically short-answer questions awarded to the team that correctly answers the toss-up question.

Only this team can answer the bonus question for additional points.

General Science Bowl Preparation Understand the Competition Get used to the format of the competition.

Understand the structure of the NSB, including the types of questions (multiple-choice and short-answer), the subjects covered (biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and mathematics), and the rules of the competition.

Also make sure that you get used to the question style; it is likely very different from competitions that you have done in the past.

Team Formation Make sure that you pick the right team members.

Since there are so many subjects, splitting up and each taking care of one subject is a good way to ensure that you have time to study everything in a high level of detail.

Also make sure that the people who are on your team are able to recall things quickly.

Mental math is a must, as well.

The questions generally are not very complicated but require recall and mental math as a result of the fact that this competition is so fast-paced.

Studying for the Competition The Department of Energy provides official resources for competition preparation here.

There are very useful and can help guide your prep.

However, they may not be enough since they don’t teach you the concepts that you are expected to know for this competition.

Additionally, you can run out of questions quickly so make sure that you use them strategically.

Biology Study Resources Here is the list of all the sources that the DOE would recommend studying from.

I have looked at the high school resources and have prepared suggestions how to study them to ensure that you can do well in the competition.

General Biology Textbooks Glencoe Biology, McGraw-Hill (High School) Pros: Uses clear and concise language, making it easy to grasp foundational concepts.

Often includes helpful diagrams, charts, and review questions to solidify your understanding.

Might be readily available from previous school classes, saving you money.

Cons: Designed for a high school audience, so the level of detail might is less than what's needed for some advanced NSB topics.

Campbell Biology (College Intro) Pros: Well-known textbook known for its comprehensive coverage of biology topics.

Often cited in academic sources, making it a good reference for further exploration.

Many universities use this text, so you might find used copies at affordable prices.

Cons: Can be quite lengthy, with in-depth explanations that might be more detail than strictly necessary for NSB.

The sheer volume of information could be overwhelming if you're short on study time.

Raven Biology (College Intro) Pros: Well-written and organized, presenting information in a way that's easy to follow.

Offers a good balance between detail and breadth, covering a wide range of biological concepts.

Similar to Campbell Biology in terms of affordability on the used market.

Cons: Like Campbell Biology, it might have more detail than what's directly tested on the NSB.

The college-level presentation might be slightly more challenging to grasp compared to a high school text.

Advanced Biology Textbooks Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell (Advanced Undergrad) Pros: Considered a leading resource for in-depth exploration of cellular processes.

Invaluable if you encounter specific NSB topics that delve into cell biology at a deeper level.

Cons: Highly detailed and can be quite challenging to understand without a strong foundation in biology.

Best used for targeted studying of specific cell biology concepts, not for general review.

Costanzo Physiology (Advanced Undergrad) Pros: Excellent resource for in-depth understanding of physiological systems.

A great reference if the NSB throws your team some physiology-related questions.

Cons: The specialized focus on physiology makes it less ideal for general biology review.

Might be more challenging to find used copies compared to introductory texts.

Raven, Biology of Plants (College Level) Pros: Offers a comprehensive exploration of plant biology, making it a valuable asset if the NSB competition has a botany-heavy round.

Provides a deeper understanding of plant structures, functions, and processes.

Cons: Less relevant for studying general biology topics that aren't plant-focused.

Similar to Costanzo Physiology in terms of finding used copies.

My Recommendations Foundational Knowledge: Start with Glencoe Biology or the first half of Campbell/Raven Biology to solidify core biological concepts.

After that you should use the previous exams to understand what areas are tested in more depth and where the gaps in your knowledge are.

You may want to skip to the next step if you have taken AP biology and retain a lot of that knowledge.

Targeted Review: Utilize the practice questions from the U.

S.

Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl website: URL national science bowl practice questions ON Department of Energy (. gov) science. osti. gov to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Focus your textbook reading on in-depth explanations of topics you find challenging in the practice questions.

If you struggle with cell biology, dedicate time to specific chapters in Alberts' Molecular Biology of the Cell.

Likewise, for physiology or botany-heavy sections, consult Costanzo Physiology or Raven Biology of Plants, respectively.

Don't neglect areas you find easy.

Skim through relevant chapters in Campbell/Raven Biology to maintain a broad understanding of biological concepts.

I personally haven’t worked through all these textbooks, but based on the information I could find online, this plan seems to make the most sense.

Feel free to modify as you go to get the most out of your time.

Conclusions If you read this far, you are definitely interested in STEM activities.

I would recommend that you learn about options other then the science bowl through Rishab’s Ultimate STEM Student Guide, which is available to anyone completely for free.

About Eashan Iyer: I am a founding member of The Qurios Institute (the company that runs this blog) and an incoming student at Brown University.

In 2023, I co-authored a research paper in the field of theoretical physics.

I am also an Eagle Scout and a senior at The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering in Rockaway, NJ.

Learn more about me at my website and LinkedIn.