February 1, 2020 was the first time CSI hosted The Blue Heron Bowl, the North Carolina regional event for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), on the ECU Outer Banks Campus.  The competition places four-person teams against each other in a round-robin style trivia tournament.  A welcome dinner at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and keynote speaker, Dr. Reide Corbett, provided students some insight into what makes the Outer Banks such a unique location geologically and ecologically.

The Plan for the 2021 event for regional bowls around the country is under development.  Due to COVID-19 we may have to host a virtual event.  The national office is currently polling participants and volunteers to see what might be possible this year.  Stay tuned!

Virtual Event

A virtual event would take place through Zoom.  Last year the National Finals were virtual and there is a successful framework for using chat rooms and having the buzzer and TCQs available to each team one at a time.  A virtual event would still require both volunteers and a minimum number of team participants.

In-person Event

If we are able to host an in-person event this year we would host it at CSI and it would likely include a welcome dinner, keynote speaker with the competition the following day.  The date for the competition is still being planned as information from teams and volunteers is coming in.

Hotel Accommodations:

Comfort Inn South

8031 Old Oregon Inlet Road

Nags Head, NC 27959

Phone: 252-441-6315

20 rooms reserved for 1/31/20 (Friday) night

20 rooms reserved for 2/1/20 (Saturday) night

Room Rates: $69.00 (Sound View), $99.00 (Oceanfront)

Room Block Name: Blue Heron Bowl

Reservation Cut-off Date: 12/27/19

Tranquil House Inn, http://www.tranquilhouseinn.com

405 Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Manteo, NC 27954

Phone: 252-473-1404

20 rooms reserved for 1/31/20 (Friday) night

20 rooms reserved for 2/1/20 (Saturday) night

Room Rate: $75.10

Room Block Name: Blue Heron Bowl

Reservation Cut-off Date: 12/31/19

Volunteers

This event requires many volunteers.  The roles of volunteers can be the following:

1. Moderator – the moderator should have some experience with an ocean science bowl.  They read the rules and the questions to the teams and are responsible for running the match.
2. Science Judge – this should be a scientist or graduate student.  They are responsible for resolving question challenges that come up during the competition.
3. Rules Judge – this can be anyone.  They are responsible for ensuring all the rules are being followed and issuing warnings.
4. Scorekeeper – this can be anyone.  They are responsible for keeping score and announcing the final scores.
5. Timekeeper – this can be anyone.  They are responsible for staying focused on the clock  and announcing after first half is over.
6. Room Runner – this can be anyone.  They are responsible for helping with set up, checking equipment, assisting rules judge, delivering questions and helping pack up.

Please contact David Sybert at sybertd@ecu.edu or 252-475-5451 with questions.