The Florida Manatee Bowl will be held this Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI). Teams of local high school students will gather in Fort Pierce, Florida, for the annual regional competition that tests teams through quick-answer buzzer questions.

The winners earn a spot in the National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB).

HBOI co-hosts the event with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, with the event location alternating each year between Fort Pierce and Miami.

“Now in its 20th year, the Florida Manatee Bowl opens up the world of environmental and Earth sciences to high school students,” said Dr. Dennis Hanisak, FAU Harbor Branch director of education and event coordinator. “By exposing students to ocean science early on, they are better prepared to become knowledgeable citizens and future leaders.”

Caption: Fort Pierce Inlet, Fort Pierce, Florida. (Photo Credit: Don Ramey Logan)