In addition to providing thousands of dollars for scholarships and the purchase of laboratory equipment and materials for the schools, many volunteers from the laboratory and private sector sponsors contribute their time and energy to make these regional competitions succeed. Texas Instruments provides TI-89 calculators and computer based laboratories to the top four teams. IBM provides Work Pads to the teachers of the coaches of the top four teams and to the team voted by the volunteers to exhibit the best sportsmanship. The first place team from each regional represented their region in the Department of Energy's National Science Bowl. The competition consists of a round-robin format followed by a double elimination tournament.
Volunteers make the program possible every year.
Each year, more than 5,000 Department of Energy employees, contractors and community members volunteer their personal time to make the program a success. Fourteen other organizations outside of the Department of Energy hosted Regional Science Bowl competitions this past year. The Department of Energy also extends its great appreciation to the many regional sponsors who help make it all possible. Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585.