The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science sponsors a range of science education initiatives through its Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists program. Included within this program is the Science Bowl, a nationwide academic science competition.

Science Bowl competitions encourage student involvement in math and science activities, improve awareness of career options in science and technology, and provide an avenue of enrichment and reward for academic science achievement.

The DOE National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office began the annual Nevada Regional Science Bowl high school competition in1991 with 19 teams competing. Today, more than 30 teams representing high schools from Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona travel to Las Vegas to compete. In 2007 the Nevada Regional Science Bowl middle school competition was established and was added to the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office program in 2011.

Competing teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. The competition consists of a round robin followed by a double elimination final. Students are quizzed in a fast-paced question-and-answer format similar to the television show Jeopardy. Questions are submitted by scientists from all of DOE's facilities as well as from other federal agencies and universities. Additionally, the middle school competition includes a separate fuel cell car race each year.

To be eligible to compete in the Nevada Regional Science Bowl high school competition, a student must be enrolled for the current school year in grades nine, ten, eleven or twelve at the team’s school, and be less than 20 years of age, or receive a special waiver from the DOE. To be eligible to compete in the Nevada Regional Science Bowl middle school competition, a student must be enrolled for the current school year in grades six, seven, or eight at the team’s school, and be between the ages of 10 and 15, or receive a special waiver from the DOE. 

No school or student group may compete in more than one regional competition, and students may compete on one team only. The Nevada Regional Science Bowl coordinator determines if more than one team from a high school or middle school will be allowed to participate in the Nevada Regional Science Bowl as well as the geographic area this regional competition will encompass. No more than two teams from one high school or student group may compete in a regional event.

Regional elimination tournaments are conducted throughout the country from January to March at DOE sponsoring sites. More than 13,000 high school students and 5,000 middle school students from 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands compete in the National Science Bowl in Washington D.C.