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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE hosts 2013 Nor'easter Ocean Science Bowl Feb. 23

The University of New England's Department of Marine Sciences will host the 2013 "Nor'easter Bowl" on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on UNE's Biddeford Campus.  

The public is welcome to view the competition. The final rounds are in Alfond Hall Room 205 starting at 3:00 p.m., and will be followed by an Awards Ceremony.

The Nor'easter Bowl is a regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), an annual academic competition that tests high school students' knowledge of the marine sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics and geology.  The goal of the NOSB is to support and expand ocean sciences education and enhance public understanding and stewardship of the oceans.  Each year, approximately 2,000 students from 300 schools across the nation compete for prizes and a trip to compete in the national competition.

During the regional Nor'easter Bowl, 15 teams of four to five students are tested on their knowledge of scientific and technical disciplines through quick-answer, buzzer questions and more complex team challenge problems.  Teams include Belfast Area High School (ME), Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy (Dover, NH), Contoocook Valley Regional High School (Peterborough, NH), Falmouth High School (ME), Morse High School (Bath, ME), Poland Regional High School (ME), Sanford High School (ME), Souhegan High School (Amherst, NH), Waterville Senior High School (ME), and Windham High School (NH).

The winning team from the Nor'easter Bowl will advance to the NOSB Finals competition, held April 18-21 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Nor'easter Bowl is open to teams from any high school in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.  Science teachers serve as team coaches.  Students can win a variety of regional and national awards, including educational trips, visits to oceanographic institutions and aquaria and books.  In addition, students who participate are eligible to apply for the Coastal and Ocean Science Training (COAST) Internship Program and the National Ocean Scholar Program.

The sponsors and supporters of the event include the University of New England; Consortium for Ocean Leadership; University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences; Maine Maritime Academy; University of New Hampshire Marine Program; New Hampshire Sea Grant; Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association; University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture; Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences; University of Maine Darling Marine Center; Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; Gulf of Maine Research Institute; UNE Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center; and Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.

For more information, contact David Guay at 207-602-2188 or email  dguay1@une.edu.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.