Competition · Online

Virtual Sponge Bowl 2027 — National Ocean Sciences Bowl

People Making a Difference — National Ocean Sciences Bowl · Online · Worldwide

Open applicationNo foreign travel requiredApplications openNeeds confirmation

Compete remotely in a high-school ocean-science quiz tournament for schools without a nearby regional bowl.

Cost: $75 USD; Paid
Duration: 2 days
Grade: Grades 9–12; Age: see eligibility rules
Format: Online; Worldwide

Deadline

Jan 15, 2027

91 days left

Cost: $75 USD
Program dates: Mar 20, 2027 – Mar 21, 2027
Format: Online
Who registers: Coach / team lead

Apply on organizer site

What you’ll need

One 4–5 student school team, coach 18+, no nearby regional and one month of team practice
Coach/principal-signed Team Intent Form and 75 USD by January 15, 2027, 23:59 ET
Coach enters student data and real signed parental/media/recruitment/participation and coach consents by February 12
Each student: non-Chromebook laptop/desktop, webcam, headset/mic, reliable internet, Zoom/Google Sheets/site access
A secondary muted camera/device monitors workspace; no shared device, phone/tablet as primary computer, vehicle or same-room teammate contact
Same four students attend all Saturday rounds and all qualified Sunday rounds; no simultaneous contests or another NOSB regional
Team photo/screenshot by 09:15 ET March 20; follow conduct and virtual competition instructions

Last verified Oct 15, 2026

Overview

People Making a Difference hosts the 2027 Virtual Sponge Bowl within the National Ocean Sciences Bowl program of UCAR’s Center for Ocean Leadership. One school enters one team of 4–5 high-school students and 1–2 coaches. Teams must practice together for at least one month. Head-to-head Zoom rounds quiz marine biology, chemistry, physics, geology, policy and other ocean disciplines, with collaborative Team Challenge Questions. The 2026–27 theme is From Source to Sea: Understanding Marine Debris. Saturday round robins lead to Sunday elimination/championship matches. All four same registered students must attend every assigned Saturday activity to remain eligible on Sunday. This is the fully remote Sponge Bowl, not an in-person regional or a generic national-finals invitation.

Official website

Subject

ScienceOcean scienceTeam competitionOnline

Overview

Subject

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