WIPP Announces Winners of Inaugural Regional Science Bowl

CARLSBAD, N.M., March 1, 2025 – After hours of intense academic competition on Saturday, March 1, student teams proved their knowledge at the second annual Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

The team from the New Mexico Military Institute was crowned the champion of this year’s competition and will represent the SE New Mexico region at the National Science Bowl in Washington D.C. on April 25, 2025.

Carlsbad hosted the regional competition at Southeast New Mexico College, where 10 teams from Carlsbad Early College, New Mexico Military Institute, Carlsbad and Hobbs high schools participated, with the winner moving on to compete nationally.

Launched in 1991, the National Science Bowl^® is a competitive science education and academic event including teams of students who compete in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. Each team is composed of four students, one alternate student and a coach.

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO), WIPP’s management and operations contractor, was the regional event’s primary sponsor and organizer. SIMCO supports the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and is a member of Bechtel National Inc.