Science Knowledge Bowl (SKB)
will be held Saturday, January
31, 2009. In recent
years SKB has attracted as many as 120 teams from
rural, suburban, and urban area high schools with
over 550 high school students competing. 
The format for the Science Knowledge Bowl
follows that of the “College Bowl” on
television. Two teams go head to head answering
science questions drawn from Biology (25%), Chemistry
(25%), Physics (25%), Earth/Space Science (10%),
Mathematics (10%), and Computer Science (5%).
Questions are of the fill-in-the-blank variety
although a few multiple-choice and figure questions
are possible. Each team member is supplied with
an electronic buzzer so that the first to answer
can be determined electronically. After buzzing,
the individual has 5 (five) seconds in which
to answer the question. If his/her answer is
correct, then the moderator awards 1 point. If
he/she is incorrect, then the question is reread
from the beginning and the other team has 10
seconds (with discussion allowed) to answer the
question. Scoring is based on the number of correct
answers divided by the total number of questions
asked. Up to 65
questions may be asked per round.
Teams will consist of 5 members all of whom will compete during each round. Each
match consists of two, eight
minute halves, with
an intermission of up to four minutes. Challenges
are allowed, and after recording they are sent
to a panel of judges. If the challenge is successful,
the judges award the appropriate points after the
match.
Teams are divided into two divisions with each
team guaranteed competition in five matches. Each
participant receives a certificate noting his/her
participation in this academic competition. In
order to balance the two divisions, we ask each
coach to rank his/her teams based on estimated
strength. The top four teams
from each division will advance to the Rockhurst semifinals and divisional
finals. The winner of each division also competes
in the day’s grand championship match. The
top eight teams in each “division” will
receive plaques and a trophy will be awarded to
winner of the grand championship match.
The top two winners from each division will also
be awarded an all expense paid
trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National
Department of Energy (DOE) Science Bowl. Winning teams to the national
competition will include four students, one alternate
and one adult.
Each coach may have a letter sent on his/her behalf
to any administrator that he/she designates. These
letters indicate the extraordinary effort involved
in bringing a science team to Rockhurst to compete
in the Science Knowledge Bowl. |
