Volunteer Information

• Officiant - Judges/Timekeepers: setting/resetting buzzer lights, use stopwatch to monitor time during competition, collaborate and make judgements during competitions
• Officiant - Moderators: read questions during team competitions, keep the competitions moving along, make the tough calls when teams interrupt or blurt out answers and reign in disruptions from the audience
• Officiant - Scorekeepers: fill out scoreboard during competitions
• Friday night set up: competition room set-up  
• Early morning set-up: arrive by 5:30 am
• Photography assistant: help BPA staff photographer during team check-in
• Breakfast for student teams: protect for competitors only; tidy up
• Friends and family lounge monitor: provide a relaxing atmosphere for competitors' friends and family; tidy up 
• Door holder: opens the doors for attendees
• Runners: staffed by kids aged 10 years and up – running scores from competition rooms to score room
• Lobby activity and information tables: information and check in and team t-shirt/bag distribution
• Score room: data entry of scores into system
• Greeters and stair monitors: greet competitors with high energy and direct traffic
• Team's lunch cooler monitor: label and watch over the team lunch coolers while they compete
• Volunteer room coordinators: checking in volunteers, passing out volunteer gear, answering questions and tracking down missing officiants
• Catering monitor for three buildings: making sure we receive the food we have ordered
• Tear-down and inventory crew: breaking down rooms after competition, starting at 1:30 pm

• National Science Bowl information
• 2024 Official National Science Bowl rules for in-person competitions
• ‘Students Battle Wits at BPA Science Bowls’ video (game-day snapshot)
• Map and Directions to University of Portland campus (check-in at Franz Hall)
• Printable campus map

• Half Day 6:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Full Day 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (greatest need)
• Afternoon 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (general volunteers only)
• Extended FULL Day 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (includes final competition and post-competition clean-up)

After sign-ups conclude, you may be contacted by our volunteer coordinator to fill a different time slot based on scheduling needs. Shift assignments will be finalized in Jan. 2024.

Jan. 10, 2024, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Jan. 11, 2024, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Optional training for general volunteers

Training for general volunteers is optional but highly encouraged. Training will be available in Portland and virtually.

Jan. 31, 2024, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Training videos: National Science Bowl

• Moderators
• Scorekeepers
• Judges
• Timekeepers

Training Video: BPA

• Science Bowl Quiz