Salmon Bowl 2026 will be held on February 6-7 at Oregon State University! Friday kicks off with engaging activities, including tours of OSU labs, hands-on STEM activities, sessions with OSU admissions representatives, and bowling at the MU Lanes. Saturday is the big competition day, where teams face off in quiz bowl matches, connect with OSU students and faculty, and celebrate ocean science with food, prizes, and fun. See below for details on team registration and volunteer opportunities. We can’t wait to welcome our Salmon Bowl community back for another exciting year!
What is the Salmon Bowl?
The Salmon Bowl is Oregon’s regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB). The NOSB is an academic program and quiz-bowl competition that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences by introducing high school students to ocean science and preparing them for STEM careers. The Salmon Bowl is more than a competition, allowing students to explore a university campus and labs, meet and engage with STEM professionals, and connect with peers who share their passion for the ocean.
Oregon teachers: Form a team
Are you an Oregon teacher interested in bringing students to Salmon Bowl 2026? Email us to register a team or learn more. This year, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to help teachers start a team, along with additional resources from the NOSB website.
Volunteers needed!
Salmon Bowl wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers. Whether you’re interested in being a Game Official (moderator, science/rules judge, score/timekeeper) or helping as Support Staff (check-in, food service, logistics), we’d love to have you on the team!
- Game Official roles require one training session before the event in February.
- Support Staff roles are one-day commitments with no training needed.
Register to volunteer or email us with questions.
Volunteer perks
All volunteers receive a t-shirt, lunch, and the chance to win gift cards and prizes in our raffle. Most importantly, you’ll receive that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from donating your time to a worthwhile cause. Salmon Bowl helps inspire the next generation of ocean scientists by connecting them with their peers, OSU students, faculty, and marine enthusiasts from the community.
Jace Bell
Co-Coordinator
Jace is a second-year graduate student in the Marine Resource Management program at OSU. At the Salmon Bowl last year, Jace loved seeing students, coaches, and volunteers come together to celebrate their passion for ocean science. He is even more excited to help grow the Salmon Bowl this year with more teams and volunteers! In his graduate studies, Jace is passionate about bridging ocean science with education and policy, and he looks forward to making meaningful contributions to the Salmon Bowl and the wider ocean science community.
Sammy Yevak
Co-Coordinator
Sammy is a first-year graduate student in the Marine Resource Management program at OSU. Originally from Colorado, he earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado Boulder and later worked professionally in alpine ecology. Throughout his career, Sammy has been deeply involved in scientific youth outreach programs. He is honored and excited to contribute to the Salmon Bowl, where he looks forward to engaging with local communities and high school students in ocean sciences, while strengthening connections between researchers and the communities they serve.