JPL Hosts Annual Ocean Sciences Bowl, Fostering Next Generation of Environmental Stewards

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena again played host to the annual Los Angeles regional Ocean Sciences Bowl tournament on Jan. 20. This event, known as the Los Angeles Surf Bowl, has been a staple at JPL since 2000.

The tournament saw eight schools from Los Angeles and Orange counties compete in a fast-paced academic competition. The students, who had spent months studying and preparing, answered challenging questions on science and policy regarding Earth’s oceans.

The victors of the tournament were from University High School in Irvine, California. Santa Monica High School took second place, and Torrance High placed third. Despite the competitive nature of the event, University High senior Claudia Kahanka emphasized the value of interacting with peers who share the same interests.

The competition format included “Jeopardy!”-style buzzer questions in eight categories, ranging from biology and chemistry to geography and marine policy. Teams also faced “team challenge questions,” allowing them to collaborate for a longer period.

The Los Angeles Surf Bowl is the first of nearly 20 regional Ocean Sciences Bowl competitions across the country. These tournaments are coordinated by the Center for Ocean Leadership, a program of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, an organization focused on Earth science-related education.

The event at JPL was staffed by volunteers from the lab and the University of Southern California, several of whom are competition alumni. This annual competition aims to help students expand their ocean-related knowledge outside the classroom and become environmental stewards.