NC Blue Heron Bowl Set for Feb. 6 in Morehead City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kerry Irish, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, 252-726-6841 x126, Irish@unc.edu
Janelle Fleming, Blue Heron Bowl, 252-269-0385, janelle.fleming@seahorsecoastal.com
Katie Mosher, NC Sea Grant, 919-515-9069, kmosher@ncsu.edu

Posted Friday, January 29, 2016 in collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences and Seahorse Coastal Consulting

The 2016 Blue Heron Bowl, a regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 on the campus of Carteret Community College in Morehead City, N.C. The UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, in concert with local business Seahorse Coastal Consulting, are hosting this event. Co-sponsors include North Carolina Sea Grant, NC Biotechnology Center, Discovery Diving, Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association and Duke University Marine Laboratory.

Twelve teams of high school students from across the state will participate in a day-long quiz bowl focusing on all things marine science. The theme of this year’s competition is “Our Changing Oceans: Science for Strong Coastal Communities.” Students will be challenged to tackle complex questions dealing with topics such as coastal erosion and restoration, water quality, coastal hazards, and policy implications of coastal planning.

Over 50 local scientists from UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, NC State University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will act as volunteers and judges for this event. Participating schools listed by county, include:

Alamance

• Walter M. Williams High School

 Carteret

• West Carteret High School

 Durham

• NC School of Science and Math

 Lincoln

• Lincoln Charter High School

 New Hanover

• Eugene Ashley High School
• John T. Hoggard High School

 Onslow

• Swansboro High School

 Orange

• East Chapel Hill High school
• Chapel Hill High School

Wake

• Green Hope High School
• Millbrook High School
• Raleigh Charter High School

The NOSB is an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education. It introduces high school students to marine sciences, in preparation for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers, ultimately helping them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards.

Winners of the Blue Heron Bowl will go on to compete in the NOSB finals on April 21-24, also in Morehead City. For more information on the national competition, visit http://nosb.org/.

###

North Carolina Sea Grant: Your link to research and resources for a healthier coast