A team of four science students from Roebuck, will be rewarded with an all-expenses paid trip to the Department of Energy National Science Bowl Competition to be held in Washington, D.C.
About 120 students from 18 high schools across the South Carolina and the Augusta-area participated in the DOE's highly competitive science bowl, an event spearheaded by the Savannah River Site's management and operations contractor.
According to a press release, teams consist of four students, an alternate and a teacher/coach. Each team competed using a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answered questions related to math and science, similar in format to the show "Jeopardy."
"Their work ethic and dedication to winning is impressive," said Candice Dermody, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions education outreach and talent manager. "Nerves are stretched thin throughout each phase of this intriguing contest of wills and use of collective knowledge."
Over the next several months, more than 9,500 high school students and 4,500 middle school students will compete in 70 high school and 50 middle school regional Science Bowl tournaments. The DOE Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl and sponsors the finals competition. SRS boasts being one of only four DOE sites to have participated each year at the regional level since the start of the Science Bowl competition.
Dave Moody, site manager, said the Energy Department continues to invest in area school systems through the use of academic competition.
"For years, the Science Bowl has been an excellent way to focus attention on the importance of science and to spotlight the capabilities of our brightest students," Moody said.
The DOE Savannah River Operations Office provides a variety of science and literacy outreach programs at the Savannah River Site by funding and coordinating the efforts of several organizations.
The primary goals of these outreach programs are to enhance interest in science, mathematics, engineering and technology, and to support improvements in education in the Central Savannah River Area by using the unique resources available at the SRS.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Georgia, and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.