WHAT: Twenty-four high school teams from throughout Southern California will participate in the yearly fast-paced academic competition for the title of Regional Science Bowl Champion at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The competition, done in “Jeopardy” style, will feature students answering college- freshman-level questions on such categories as solar system, Earth, universe and technology. Each team has four students, one alternate and a teacher, who serves as an advisor and coach. Students may not use calculators or notes for the competition.

The National Science Bowl, coordinated by the Department of Energy, is the country’s largest science competition and is the only one sponsored by a federal agency. This past year, more than 20,000 students participated in 105 regional competitions. The winners from each regional event will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Science Bowl finals. This year’s finals will run from April 26 to April 30. More information is online at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/pso/nsb.cfm .

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Final matches begin at about 3:30 p.m. The awards presentation begins at approximately 4 p.m.

WHERE: JPL’s Von Karman Auditorium, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, Calif. JPL is located off the Oak Grove Drive exit of the 210 (Foothill) Freeway. Visitor parking is to the left (west) of the JPL main guard gate, across the street from the JPL Visitor Center.

CONTACT: RSVP to Priscilla Vega in the JPL Media Relations Office at 818-354-1357 by Friday, Jan. 20, at 5:30 p.m.

2012 JPL Science Bowl: Participating Schools

1. Arcadia High School
2. Calabasas High School
3. Crescenta Valley High School, La Crescenta
4. Diamond Bar High School
5. Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta
6. Herbert Hoover High School, Glendale
7. Huntington Beach High School
8. John Marshall Fundamental High School, Pasadena
9. Junipero Serra High School, Gardena
10. Maranatha High School, Pasadena
11. Newbury Park High School
12. Palmdale High School
13. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
14. Palos Verdes High School
15. Redondo Union High School, Redondo Beach
16. San Dimas High School
17. Santa Monica High School
18. South Hills High School, West Covina
19. Temple City High School
20. Troy High School, Fullerton
21. University High School, Los Angeles
22. William Workman High School, City of Industry
23. Wilson Classical High School, Long Beach
24. Woodbridge High School, Irvine