In 2007, continuing its long history of support for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), the Gulf of Mexico Foundation furnished $2,250 for the 2007 Loggerhead Challenge, one of Texas’ two regional NOSB competitions, held on Feb 24.

Additionally, on Feb 23, the Foundation participated in the NOSB Information Fair where local organizations set up display boards, banners and posters to show the NOSB students their unique programs and activities. GMF Project Coordinator Kathryn Tunnell explained to NOSB participants the Foundation’s role in conserving the Gulf of Mexico and discussed possible career options.

Seventeen teams from 11 high schools participated in the all-day event at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The winning team faced 24 other regional winners in April at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York, for the national title.

Winners of the 2007 Loggerhead Challenge regional qualifying event
for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl in Corpus Christi, which the GMF
has supported with funding every year since 1998.

NOSB Background

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is a national competition sponsored by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education based in Washington DC. The program seeks to interest students in the ocean sciences as a college major and potential career. NOSB strives to generate student interest in the ocean sciences, to improve awareness of the ocean, coast and Great Lakes, and to create an “ocean literate” society. Inaugurated in 1998, the NOSB provides an educational forum for students to excel in math and science and to receive national recognition for their diligence and talents.

The event is a tournament-style academic competition designed to challenge and recognize high school student knowledge of math and science in the context of the oceans. The round-robin, double-elimination competition consisted of toss-up and short-answer team challenge questions within the scientific and technical disciplines used to study the oceans.

Winning teams from each of the regional competitions held across the nation each year advance to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. All winning teams are offered transportation and room and board for the final competition.