The Science Bowl is a statewide academic competition among Minnesota schools in a rapid-fire, question-and-answer format. Categories include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, energy, mathematics, physics and current events in the scientific and technical community. Winners of the regional competition go on to compete at the national level.

The Minnesota Science Bowl for High School Students is held on a Saturday in late January.

The Minnesota Science Bowl for Middle School Students is held on a Saturday in mid February.

Any current public, private, or home school team is welcome to participate. The National Science Bowl is a school-based competition. Teams of home-schooled students will be considered to belong to a school as long as they are part of an official home school association. Club teams will only be approved if they belong to a school/official home school association. No more than three teams from one school or student group may compete in a regional event. The high school science bowl is for current 9-12th grade students. The middle school science bowl is for current 6-8th grade students.

Coaches must be approved by the schools their teams represent.

The cost for an in-person event is $150 per high-school team/$125 per middle-school team; the cost for a virtual/online event is $100 per high-school team/$75 per middle-school team. The fee for team registration must be received before registration is complete. There is a $50 late registration fee per team if the registration is not complete by the registration deadline. A registration fee waiver or reduction may be available on request.

There will be a maximum of 40 teams in the Minnesota Science Bowl for High School Students and 24 teams in the Middle School Bowl. The goal of the Minnesota Academy of Science is to maximize the number of schools participating. To reach this goal, the first 40 high schools and 24 middle schools with completed registrations by the deadline will have one team from their school accepted into the tournament. If there is space available after one team from each school has been accepted, schools’ second teams will be accepted. If there is space available after a second team from each school has been accepted, schools’ third teams will be accepted. It is likely that there will be room for all teams, but if necessary, second and third teams will be selected via a lottery system. Coaches will be notified shortly after the deadline as to the number of teams accepted from their school.

The Science Bowl is a popular competition and schools are encouraged to start the registration process early. 

Both the winning high school and middle school teams will compete in the National Science Bowl® in Washington, DC. Expenses for the students and coach are paid - including travel, accommodations and organized activities. The National Science Bowl® is sponsored by the Department of Energy. (Note: In 2020 and 2021, the NSB was held virtually.)