Middle School Science Bowl to Be Held at Florida Solar Energy Center on Saturday

The 2007 Southeast Regional Middle School Science Bowl competition will be held at the Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida (FSEC) on Saturday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eighteen teams from Florida and Georgia will participate in the academic competition.

The Science Bowl is a fast-paced contest in which students answer questions about earth science, physical science, life science, general science and math. A program of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the Science Bowl encourages student involvement in mathematics and science activities, improves awareness of alternative fuel technologies, and provides an avenue of enrichment and reward for academic science achievement.

The top academic team members and their mentor from the event will receive an all- expenses-paid trip to Denver, Colorado, to represent the Southeast region of the United States at the National Middle School Science Bowl competition June 21-24.

Each of the top eight teams will receive a fuel cell car kit. They will have several weeks to construct a hydrogen fuel cell car using the kit and can demonstrate the performance and construction of the vehicles at the EnergyWhiz Olympics at FSEC on May 12.

Participating teams in the Science Bowl will come from the following schools:
Andrew Jackson Middle, Brevard County
Challenger K-8, Hernando County
Deltona Middle, Volusia County
Denn John Middle, Osceola County
Harris County Carver Middle, Harris County, GA
Holy Hill Middle, Volusia County
Howard Middle, Jefferson County
Key Largo Middle, Monroe County
Lincoln Middle, Alachua County
Lockhart Middle, Orange County
Oakwood Academy Charter, Brevard County
Odyssey Middle, Orange County
Powell Middle, Hernando County
Ronald McNair Magnet, Brevard County
Sculptor Charter, Brevard County
St. Charles Borromeo School, Orange County
Trinity Preparatory School, Orange County
Tuskawilla Montessori Academy, Seminole County

For additional information about the Southeast Regional Middle School Science Bowl or the EnergyWhiz Olympics, contact Susan Schleith, FSEC Education Coordinator, at 321-638-1017, Susan@fsec.ucf.edu.

The Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida, is the largest and most active state-supported energy research center in the country. Current research activities include solar water and pool heating, solar electric and distributed generation systems, energy-efficient buildings, alternative transportation systems, hydrogen fuel, fuel cells and other energy  areas. For more information about the center, visit www.fsec.ucf.edu or call the FSEC Public Affairs Office at (321) 638-1015.