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By Ken Askew

What physical state of matter is intermediate between a solid and gas? How many degrees are in one-third of a right angle? What organelle functions to isolate a human cell's chromosomes from the cytoplasm?

The South Park team, consisting of (L to R): Elias Haddad, Nathan Lysaght, Haley Sabolcik, and Catey Holmes, takes a break at halftime.

The above questions are just a sampling of the types of questions asked of the contestants in the 2015 Southwestern PA Middle School Science Bowl on February 28. (Answers appear at the end of this article.)

Categories of questions--both short answer and multiple choice--included Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, Math, Energy, and General Science. All of the eight sequential rounds of competition lasted for 24 questions, or until regulation time was up. In each head-to-head match-up of two teams, four adult volunteers served as moderator, scientific judge, scorekeeper, and timekeeper.

Jointly sponsored by the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) South Campus in West Mifflin and the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) next to South Park, this year's all-day event, held at CCAC, registered 30 4-person teams from 17 middle schools.

Allegheny County was represented by middle schools from Brentwood, Fort Couch, Harrison, Pleasant Hills (three teams), and South Park.

The top four teams (Dorseyville, Marshall Team 1, and Ingomar Teams 1 and 3) went on to the finals held at NETL the following Wednesday. Marshall repeated their win of last year. First prize was $1,000 for their school's science department, a school plaque, an awards banquet, tablet case, backpack, and binoculars. They will next compete in the National Science Bowl, held in Washington, DC on April 24-28.

Answers to the above questions, in the same order, are: Liquid, 30, and nucleus. 

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