2001 National Ocean Sciences Bowl

The Ocean Conservancy
Thursday, 5 April 2001

Cranston High School West of Cranston, Rhode Island Takes 3rd place

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator, Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) today announced that Cranston High School West earned the third place prize in the 4th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl.

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is sponsored jointly by CMC and the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education. An estimated 1,700 students and teachers representing 264 high schools competed in 19 regional competitions during the months of January and February in order to advance to the Final competition, that was held in Miami, Florida on April 2nd and 3rd.

In its third appearance at the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, Cranston High School West of Cranston, Rhode Island took home an impressive 3rd place finish, matching their 3rd place finish in 2000. For placing third, Cranston West's team will make a trip, funded by CMC, to Catalina Island and stay on the University of Southern California's Wrigley Institute campus. Once there, they will assist researchers in fish tagging activities, and participate in kayaking in and around the coves and natural caves along the coast and snorkel with adolescent tiger sharks.

Teachers and coaches volunteered their time outside of the classroom to prepare the students in the subjects of biology, geology, chemistry, physics of the oceans, as well as navigation, geography and related history and literature.

"These students, teachers and coaches should be commended for their efforts to become more aware of our vast oceans," noted CMC President, Roger Rufe. "The Center for Marine Conservation strongly believes in the importance of education. We feel that if people are better informed about the oceans, they are more likely to be inspired and empowered to speak and act for the oceans."

Senator Chafee, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, also gave a thumbs up to his state's high school for their achievement. "I'd like to congratulate the Cranston High School West team for their 3rd place victory in the 2001 National Ocean Sciences Bowl. Their hard work and months of preparation proved a great success."

"Understanding the complexity of the ocean and its systems is vitally important for their continued sustainability," Chafee continued. "The education of students in ocean sciences will ensure that future generations continue to strive toward the protection of our marine resources."

Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, the Center for Marine Conservation informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act for the oceans in order to protect ocean ecosystems and conserve the global abundance and diversity of marine wildlife. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CMC has regional offices in Alaska, California, Florida, and New England and field offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, CA, Florida Keys, U.S. Virgin Islands and the office of Pollution Prevention and Monitoring in Virginia Beach, VA.

For more information, or to contact The Ocean Conservancy, see their website at: www.oceanconservancy.org