For Immediate Release

Sept. 26, 2006

Contact: Mandy Rey

(662) 329-7119

 

Mississippi Regional Science Bowl receives grant

 

            COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Mississippi Regional Science Bowl, held annually at Mississippi University for Women, has received a $2,500 Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation Grant.

            Dr. Michael Elioff, MUW assistant professor of chemistry and Regional Science Bowl coordinator, worked with Jami Nettles, Ph.D., research hydrologist for the Weyerhaeuser Company of Columbus, to complete the necessary work to obtain the grant. Elioff and Nettles met at a science bowl last year where they began discussing the possibility of applying for the grant. Nettles served as the sponsor while Bob Dale, also an employee of Weyerhaeuser, served as the co-sponsor.

            Elioff is also the coordinator for the National Science Bowl. Other MUW faculty members that serve on the National Science Bowl committee include Dr. Bonnie Oppenheimer, associate professor of mathematics; Dr. Marty Harvill, associate professor of biology and Dione Fortenberry, associate professor of chemistry.

Nettles, Dale and Elioff as well as the other MUW faculty members serving on the committee worked hard to complete the necessary application process for the grant.

The grant was awarded by Elizabeth A. Crossman, Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation president.

The money will be used to buy a buzzer system for the Science Bowl and other supplies including postage, refreshments, door prizes, transportation, office supplies, medals, trophies and photocopies.

Elioff said, “The Science Bowl is an excellent way to interest students in scientific research, and corporate partnerships are a great way of funding the regional events.”

“We are very excited to receive this grant. It’s our first from the private sector. Buzzer systems are expensive and ours badly needed replacing,” Elioff added.

The Regional Science Bowl, planned for Feb. 16, 2007, is a tournament-style academic competition that challenges and recognizes ninth-12^th grade students' knowledge of science and mathematics. Students receive randomly drawn questions from areas including astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, mathematics and physics. Students form teams to participate in the competition where they have the opportunity to meet other students from the region, have a great time and sharpen their math and science skills. In the past, MUW has sponsored this annual event through the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Bowl and NASA.

The National Science Bowl is currently in its 17^th year and is scheduled for April 26-30, 2007. The event has continued to grow over the years and last year 71 regions participated. MUW is part of the Mississippi region, which includes all of Mississippi as well as parts of Arkansas and northern Alabama.