Application Guidelines for
NOSB Finals Competition Host
“Fostering an ocean stewardship ethic is one of the most important goals of the
NOSB®. The opportunities for young scientists in the future seem almost as boundless
as the seas. We need them to conduct research, teach and establish policies that
further our understanding and management of our largest natural resource . . .our
oceans.”
-RADM Dick West (Retired)
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, representing leading oceanographic institutions, universities and
aquaria, manages the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®), a high profile national competition for high
school students focused on topics related to the ocean sciences. The goals of this exemplary program are
to:
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Broaden students and teachers awareness of the latest scientific research on the oceans.
Help teachers understand and use interdisciplinary aspects of the ocean sciences in education.
Provide teachers and students access to marine science education and scientific professionals.
Provide an awareness of ocean-related career opportunities.
Reach out to new students and communities to boost participation by populations underrepresented in the ocean sciences.
About The Competition
Teams composed of four students, one alternate, and a coach compete at the regional level at 25 sites
across the country. There, students are tested on their general knowledge of ocean sciences by
participating in several question-and-answer sessions comprised of multiple choice, short answer and
cooperative critical thinking questions. Topics include biology, chemistry, geology and physics, as well as
the history and economics of the world’s oceans, navigation, geography, technology and ocean-related
current events. The winning team from each regional competition progresses to the final national
competition held annually in different locations around the country.
National Host for NOSB®
Each spring, during the national Finals Competition, Ocean Leadership initiates a call for regional sites
interested in hosting the Finals Competition two years from the time the announcement is made.
Regional sites that would like to be a Finals host should submit the attached application for consideration.
A committee of Ocean Leadership staff will evaluate host site applications and develop recommendations
for the Ocean Leadership President’s final decision. The evaluation will be based on:
1) Ability to provide items 1 through 3 in the attached directions.
2) Geographic location. Ocean Leadership anticipates that the NOSB will be held in a different
location each year.
3) Available funds.
4) Consistency with Ocean Leadership’s long-term mission and goals for NOSB.
5) Connections with the competition theme for that year
Applications for the 2010 competition will be accepted through Monday, October 5, 2009. Applicants
will be notified of selection results by Friday, November 13, 2009.
Organization Information
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®)
1201 New York Ave, NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Contacts
NOSB Director: Kathleen Meehan Coop, 202-448-1232, [email protected]
NOSB Education Coordinators: Christine Hodgdon, 202-448-1235, [email protected];
Allison Byrd, 202-448-1238, [email protected]
Travel and Meeting Planner: Maureen Crane, 202-448-1242, [email protected]
Fax: 202-986-5072; Website: http://www.NOSB.org
Program Management/Sponsorship
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership serves as the NOSB National Office. NOSB was created during the
1998 Year of the Ocean to further the organization’s mission of supporting and expanding ocean sciences
education. The NOSB is coordinated in association with the National Oceanographic Partnership
Program, and is primarily supported by the following government agencies:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
National Aeronautics & Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Oceanographer of the Navy
Office of Naval Research
Minerals Management Service
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Geological Survey
Locations where the NOSB final competition has been or will be held:
Washington, DC (1998 & 1999)
Baltimore, MD (2000)
Miami, FL (2001)
Providence, RI (2002)
La Jolla, CA (2003)
Charleston, SC (2004)
Biloxi, MS (2005)
Monterey, CA (2006)
Stony Brook, NY (2007)
Seward, Alaska (2008)
Washington, DC (2009)
St. Petersburg, FL (2010)
Thank you for your interest in hosting the annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition!
Directions for Applying to Become the
2011 NOSB Final Competition Host
For consideration as the 2011 hosting site for the National Ocean Sciences
Bowl, the following items must be submitted to the National office by
Monday, October 5, 2009.
(1) Letter of Interest
 On institutional letterhead
 Signed by either the Dean, President, or Director of your institution
(2) Documentation outlining how your site can manage the following needs (see attached
fact sheet for specifics)
 Coordination - Regional logistics coordinator with demonstrated ability to effectively
manage a large national event.
 Identify all key staff working on the program
 Field Trips
 List potential field trip options that are appropriate for the participants for the day before
the competition starts
- Approximately half of the suggested field trips should provide a connection with the
competition theme that year.
- One field trip that accommodates the entire group is also an option.
 Lodging
 List local lodging options for all the participants, regional coordinators and VIPs.
- Ideally the hotel would be large enough to house the entire group. (see attached
document for numbers of rooms needed)
- Provide general information on the location of the top lodging options (location
to nearby venues, restaurants, etc.)
- Provide general information on the lodging option’s amenities (pool, continental
breakfast, # of roll-away beds (if available), wireless internet, etc.)
 Volunteer
 Indicate ability to recruit approximately 100 volunteers to serve both as officials and
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general volunteers throughout the weekend.
- Provide an anticipated percentage of new versus experienced volunteers
Describe volunteer training plan
 Facilities
 Identify fourteen (14) rooms suitable for competition and an additional three (3) rooms
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to serve as the Judge’s Room, the Scoring Room and Ocean Bowl Central
- Rooms should be located close together, optimally in the same building
Identify one large meeting room/auditorium available for use both on Sunday AM for the
rules review, and for the final rounds of competition on Monday. (seating at least 250
people)
List possible locations for the evening competition kick-off event. The space or facility
should be able to accommodate ~200 or more people (participants, sponsors and
volunteers).
- The venue should be unique and/or have significance for your region.
- Please consider a venue that would be intriguing for sponsors so they will be
interested in receiving tickets to attend.
Provide catering requirements – If the facilities have specific caterers that groups need to
work with, please provide those lists.
 Transportation
 Identify local/regional airports and their distance to event location
 Describe transportation options (i.e. school buses; if your organization already has
transportation, can it be used by the NOSB program; etc.)
 Provide a general transportation plan on how you would move the teams to and from
each location and the general distances and time requirements:
- Airport
- Hotel and competition location
- Field trips
- Opening Ceremony/Dinner location
 Fundraising
 Identify any potential local or regional sponsors who may be interested in sponsoring a
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field trip or partnering to provide sponsorship for the Saturday night event or any other
aspect of the competition.
Provide the name of the individual at your organization that would be responsible for
working with the National office to coordinate the fundraising activities
 Misc:
 Suggest one or two local speakers, whose careers or experiences relate to oceans and
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the year’s theme.
Identify, if possible) a potential contact within the local artist community that might be
interested in donating an artistic drawing for the competition t-shirt.
Indicate where you would host the prior year’s RC meeting, which will be held in your
region.
This section should be no longer than 4 pages total.
(3) Budget
This can be approximate. The purpose is to provide us with an idea of costs associated with holding
the event in your area. Ocean Leadership anticipates that this budget will be finalized as decisions
are made regarding the logistics of the event.
Note: Historically, hosting budgets have been approximately $22,000-$25,000. This is expected to
cover staff support, field trip expenses, transportation associated with the field trips and the
competition, the Saturday evening event, materials and equipment (including question notebook
preparation). Food is managed as a separate expense and is not included in this budget, however,
general cost estimates are needed. As an educational project, Ocean Leadership asks that host
institution waive indirect costs associated with these expenses.
Please include the following items and associated costs within the budget:
 Amount of staff time, and cost of that time, available to assist the National office in
organizing this event.
 All transportation - to/from airport, to/from hotel to competition, field trips.
 Field trips - i.e. rental of equipment, park fees, etc.
 Kick-off evening event – catering, facility rental, tents, etc.
 Competition rooms (facility rental) - i.e. A/V equipment rental, facility, custodial, etc.
 Catering costs – volunteer training, question review, additional meal needs.
 Any additional general costs that need to be included.
There is no need for a written budget justification. A table (Word or Excel) that clearly identifies how
much would be spent and where will suffice.
(4) Theme
For 2011 the theme for the competition will be Human Impacts.
Fact Sheet: NOSB Finals Competition Requirements
Event Name:
Event Date Range:
# Of Participants:
National Ocean Sciences Bowl Finals Competition (NOSB®)
Friday - Monday, late April or early May
Approximately 125 Students and 55 Adults (coaches and RCs)
(plus local volunteers, staff and Ocean Leadership staff)
Housing Requirements
Date:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
5
0
55
60
55
60
55
60
25
25
0
0
Single
Dbl/Trpl/Quad
The following information assumes that the competition weekend will run from Saturday until Monday. If
facility/organizational requirements dictate that the competition weekend must run from Friday to Sunday, please
note that in your application and make the appropriate adjustments when reading the information below.
Meeting Room Requirements
Thursday - Monday
Office/Registration Workroom – Large enough for two to three 6’ Tables and about 50 large boxes
for distribution of competition materials.
Sunday
Competition and Double Elimination Matches – One general session room to accommodate
approximately 250 people theater style and risers for opening remarks and a review of the competition
rules and guidelines. The group will then disperse into 12-14 breakout rooms (The general session room
to be used as one of the competition rooms) each to accommodate three 6’ tables, chairs and audience
observation seating (theater) for 20 – 30 people.
Sunday - Monday
One additional room to be used as an appeals judging room to consist of a table (round or rectangle) to
accommodate four to eight people. Include as part of above room estimate.
Monday
The existing general session room of theater seating for 250 people, risers with the podium, podium
microphone, “Competition Table” arrangement on the risers.
Final Competition Agenda and Requirements (all times below subject to change)
Date
Wed/Thurs.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Agenda/Requirements
Ocean Leadership management team arrives – No agenda
25 teams of 5 students each, coaches, RCs arrive
All will report to Registration location for competition check-in
No other events
Breakfast
7:00 – 8:00 AM
Field trips are arranged to depart from the hotel housing participants
Evening event
Breakfast
7:00 – 8:00 AM
General Session 9:00 – 9:30 AM or earlier
12-14 Breakouts for the competition INCLUSIVE of the General Session Room
from 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
One Room for the Appeals Judges
(See A/V Table for Requirements)
AM and PM Breaks
Buffet Lunch 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Buffet dinner or Dinner on own 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Monday
Tuesday
Breakfast
7:00 – 8:30 AM
One standard competition room and one General Session Room for 250 people
theater plus risers for Final Competition and Awards Ceremony from 8:30 AM –
2:30 PM
One Room for the Appeals Judges
AM Break
(See A/V Table for Requirements)
Teams and coaches depart
Teams, coaches from farther coast and Ocean Leadership management team
depart
End of Services
Audio/Visual and Set-up Requirements
Dates
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
<END>
A/V and Set-up Requirements
None Required
Registration Area – No A/V Required
Easels
Podium and microphone (possibly)
General Session Room
Riser Stage
Podium with Microphone
Overhead Projector
Projection Screen
One Flipchart with paper & marker
Multiple Power Strips
Breakout/Competition Rooms (12 in Total)
One Flipchart w/markers for each B/O Room
Overhead Projector
Screen
Power Strips
Riser Stage
Podium with Microphone
Lavaliere or Hand held Microphone
Table microphones for competitors and moderator
Overhead Projector
Projection Screen
One Flipcharts w/markers
Multiple Power Outlets and Strips