WHAT:
For more than 30 years, the LADWP Regional Science Bowl has been a proud tradition exemplifying academic excellence, bringing together talented local high school student teams to face off in a fast-paced, rigorous STEM academic Buzzer Competition and a challenging Hands-On Competition with an opportunity to win scholarships. This year’s Regional Science Bowl features 42 teams from 24 high schools, highlighting some of the region’s top young scholars.
Using a high-energy game show format for the Buzzer Competition, moderators challenge four-member teams with complex, college-level questions ranging from biology, chemistry, to earth science, physics, energy, and math as they compete head-to-head under intense time pressure. Teams have just five seconds to answer a toss-up question and earn four points. The team that buzzes in first with the correct answer then gets the chance to tackle a bonus question worth an additional 10 points – making speed, accuracy, and teamwork critical to victory. The team with the highest total score wins the match.
Teams also compete in a Hands-On Competition demonstrating problem-solving and time management skills, which offers a different challenge for teams to tackle each year. Scholarship prizes are provided for both the Buzzer and Hands-On competitions. Overall, students not only showcase their knowledge, but also their teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking – skills that will shape the leaders and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
The winning team from the regional Buzzer Competition team will represent the City of Los Angeles and region at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., which takes place April 30 – May 4, 2026.
WHEN:
Saturday, February 21, 2026
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. “Hands-On Competition”
4:30 p.m. Final Round followed by the Awards Ceremony
For B-Roll of past year’s “Buzzer Competition,” go to: 2025 LADWP Science Bowl Sizzle Reel
WHERE:
LADWP John Ferraro Building, 111 N. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Parking: Customer Lot on Hope St. near Temple St. The Hope St. main entrance is closed on the weekend. Enter the building through the parking lot.
BACKGROUND:
The LADWP Regional Science Bowl is an official, regional qualifying tournament of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science National Science Bowl®. The LADWP Regional Science Bowl is one of eight regional competitions in California and 65 nationwide at the high school level. Since the national program began in 1991, more than 350,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl® program. Each year, about 10,000 middle and high school students will compete in 65 high school and 50 middle school regional Science Bowl tournaments.
The LADWP Regional Science Bowl spans the entire Los Angeles Unified School District, bringing together public, charter, private, and parochial schools from across the region. Since Los Angeles first entered the National Science Bowl in 1993, LADWP Regional Championship teams have built an incredible legacy-producing five national champions and 17 top five national trophies, cementing L.A.’s place as a national powerhouse in this competition.
To learn more, visit: LADWP.com/ScienceBowl
CONTACT: Dawn Cotterell | Dawn.Cotterell@ladwp.com | (213) 367-4208
SPONSORS:
