History & Mission
Background
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, representing leading oceanographic institutions universities and aquaria, manages a national academic competition for high schools on topics related to the study of the oceans — the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®). The NOSB is a nationally recognized and highly acclaimed high school academic competition that provides a forum for talented students to test their knowledge of the marine sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology. The NOSB was created in 1998 in honor of the International Year of the Ocean and since its inception, the competition has grown to include 25 regional competition locations with 300 schools and over 2,000 students participating annually.
Mission
The NOSB mission is to enrich science teaching and learning across the United States through a high-profile national competition that increases high school students’ knowledge of the oceans and enhances public understanding and stewardship of the oceans.
Four Primary Objectives
- Broaden students’ and teachers’ awareness of the latest scientific research on the oceans and the critical impact of the oceans on global climate, weather, economic well-being, history, and culture;
- Help teachers use the oceans as a tool for cross-disciplinary science education and as a vehicle for teaching biology, physics, chemistry, geology, and mathematics by giving them access to the latest marine science education and science professionals;
- Give oceanographic research programs the opportunity to develop new links with their local pre-college community and open students’ eyes to ocean-related career options; and
- Reach out to new students and communities to boost participation by minorities, women, and disadvantaged students.
