BIDDEFORD – High school students from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will compete in a battle of scientific wits as participants in the 2004 Nor’Easter Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the University of New England in Biddeford.

Teams will be challenged with multiple-choice, short-answer and team-effort questions that will cover all aspects of ocean science, including physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, biology, technology, economics, history and culture.

Through a round-robin double-elimination format, the winning team from the northern New England region will secure a spot in the national competition, and win prizes such as academic scholarships, educational field trips, sports tickets, computer software and gift certificates.

Inaugurated in 1998 by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, the Ocean Sciences Bowl provides a forum for students excelling in math and science to receive national recognition, while increasing the public’s awareness of the importance of ocean issues.

This year, 24 regional competitions such as the Nor”Easter Bowl are being held across the country. The winning teams will be flown to the national competition in Charleston, S.C., in April.

Area teams include Mount Ararat High School of Topsham, Gray-New Gloucester High School and Poland Regional High School. Teams consist of four high school students, one alternate and their coach. Teachers and students prepare for the competition as an extracurricular activity on a volunteer basis.

The competition will begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 7 at an assembly in Alfond Center. Snow date is Feb. 8. The public is welcome. For more information, visit www.bigelow.org/nosb or contact the 2004 National Ocean Sciences Bowl Regional Coordinator Tracey McDonnell Wysor at twysor@bigelow.org.