Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2015 - (Page 22)

Becoming a through the National Ocean Sciences Bowl by Nate Marshall A lthough I had visited the seas a few times, I was an Idahoan: a mountain biker, skier, and cross country runner, familiar only with a semiarid climate and my native ocean of sagebrush and cheatgrass. I carried no oceanic knowledge into my freshman year of high school. If someone had told me that I would fall in love with ocean science, I would have only chuckled: I wasn't even interested in the oceans. It was my Quiz Bowl coach, Tony Baca, who introduced me to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) in January 2013, as a freshman. My school had won the regional tournament the previous year, but that team was composed entirely of seniors, necessitating new recruits. I had enjoyed participating in academic competitions, so I was glad to give NOSB a try. In this annual competition, teams of four to five students are tested on their knowledge of ocean science through quick-answer buzzer questions and more complex team challenge questions. The winning team from each of 20 or so regional competitions advances to the national finals, held in a different location each year. At the national level, the competition becomes theme-based. The topics-which I initially found overwhelming-include marine policy, technology, geography, geology, biology, and chemistry. For me, the real allure of the competition was not my passion for the seas but rather the upcoming trip to Corvallis, Oregon, to compete in the regional tournament. Nonetheless, our four-member team logged hours of study as we familiarized ourselves with starfish anatomy, longshore drift, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. As the regional competition at Oregon State University approached, our expectations were modest, but our confidence was growing. Despite our inexperience, we advanced through the tournament and overcame seasoned teams. Before we knew it, we were competing in the finals match. In a tight contest, we finally lost in extra time. While disappointed at the defeat, we were surprised at how effective our studying had been. I was hooked. 22 imagine NOSB An Increasing Awareness In my sophomore year, we set the lofty goal of winning nationals. This ambitious objective motivated us: throughout the year, we created practice questions and presentations for one another, consumed textbooks, and watched videos, deepening our understanding of such topics as Langmuir circulation and the Lomonosov current. We were competitive with each other and self-motivated, studying as much as possible inside and outside of team practices. And simultaneously, our awareness of the ocean increased. We realized that our actions, although 400 miles away from the coast, ultimately affect the ocean. In particular, we developed a strong interest in the dire threat posed by ocean acidification, the theme of the 2014 NOSB. As we learned, ocean acidification is the imbalance of the ocean's chemistry as a result of its absorption of carbon dioxide, which is produced by humans through the burning of fossil fuels. These changes threaten all species that rely on a calcium carbonate shell, including corals, oysters, mussels, and several key phytoplankton species that serve as food sources for countless organisms higher in the food web. we realIzed that our aCtIons, although 400 mIles away from the Coast, ultImately affeCt the oCean. The First Step Returning to Corvallis, we were eager to take the first step toward our goal: qualifying for nationals. Following an early defeat in the round robin competition, we fought back to make it to the finals match where, on a four-point toss-up question in the final second, we lost by one point. Disappointed, we headed home. Then, just before spring break, Mr. Baca received an email inviting us to compete at nationals. The winning regional team was unable to attend, Jan/Feb 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2015

Big Picture
In My Own Words
Land & Sea
Going Full Circle with Ocean Conservation
At Home in the Water
Diving into Marine Science
Ocean Views
Becoming a Steward of the Seas
Engineering for Ocean Health
Selected Opportunities and Resources
The Wonderful World of MOOCs
Super
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review: UC San Diego
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2015