Ames Lab, in conjunction with Iowa State, hosted its 23rd regional Science Bowl competition.

Forty teams from across the state converged in Ames on Saturday to vie for the chance to represent Iowa in the National Science Bowl in D.C. 

In what Steven Karsjen, program manager of public affairs with the Ames Lab, described as a “fun and exciting” atmosphere, all teams competed initially in several round-robin matches. Afterward, the top 16 teams moved on to compete in a double-elimination, bracket-style finale that would crown the eventual champion.

Before the first science or math question could even be asked at Hoover Hall, much preparation was necessary to put on this event.

“We started working on this right away in late September and early October getting the information out [to schools] about Science Bowl,” Karsjen said. “We’re working on this from late September right up until the last minute.”

After schools were notified, registrations were completed, and all logistical arrangements were made, the competition was ready to begin — but not without the aid of volunteers.

“We have 90 to 100 volunteers for the high school Science Bowl. What is fantastic is that 60 percent of those volunteers are graduate and undergraduate students at Iowa State,” Karsjen said. 

Many of these students are Science Bowl alumni themselves.

“It’s a great way to give back and they enjoy doing it,” Karsjen stated.

One of the ways they give back is by aiding in running one of the numerous matches held throughout the day.

In these matches, two of five teams compete against one another, with four players in the match and one serving as an alternate. Each match typically lasts 16 minutes, with a two-minute intermission halfway through.

Within a match, students buzz in to answer questions read aloud by a proctor. A team can receive points in intervals of four and 10 in lieu of answering a question correctly or by other varying means, such as the opposing team unsuccessfully answering a question before the proctor is finished reading, which is known as interrupting.

After the allotted amount of questions is completed, the team with the most points is declared the winner.

In this particular tournament, Pleasant Valley High School did not lose a match, ending up on top.

“It was the craziest thing ever. We were able to pull out some victories,” said Ben from Pleasant Valley.

Unlike the organizers of the event, not a lot of preparation was accomplished from this eastern Iowan team until shortly before the event. One place where they were able to get some key practice, though, was at Hickory Park.

“Last night when we went to dinner, we had to wait, and they were running questions in the restaurant waiting area,” said coach and adviser Jamie Homb.

This impromptu preparation was not the only factor that helped them to a title, as a little good fortune was on their side in the championship match also.

“The last game was a ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ moment for me. I answered four bonus questions, and every single one drew from some obscure moment in my life that happened,” said Allen, a student comparing himself to Jamal from the 2008 award-winning movie.

It was also Pleasant Valley’s first time competing in any type of Science Bowl competition.