Thirty-six schools will be represented at the 2026 Western Pennsylvania Science Bowl (WPASB), which will be held Friday, Feb. 27, for middle schools and Saturday, Feb. 28, for high schools. The Community College of Allegheny County South Campus in West Mifflin will host both days of the tournament.

The WPASB provides an exciting opportunity for students to compete in a fast-paced quiz bowl-style tournament that will test their knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The 2026 contest marks the 35th year for the WPASB.

“At NETL, we believe this contest inspires students to become the next generation of scientists and engineers who will ensure reliable, affordable and secure energy for our nation and achieve other critical scientific and technical breakthroughs,” said NETL’s Adam Lott, regional coordinator for the contests.

The theme for this year’s competition is “Science: The Power Behind the Magic,” which acknowledges how STEM makes discoveries that once seemed impossible possible. Questions are multiple choice or short answer and cover a range of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, energy, mathematics and physics.

The winning middle school and high school teams will advance to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl to be held April 30 to May 4.

Middle schools to compete in the WPASB are Albert Gallatin North, Carson Middle School (North Allegheny), Fort Couch Middle School (Upper St. Clair), Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School (Connellsville), Harrison Middle School (Baldwin-Whitehall), Independence Middle School (Bethel Park), Ingomar Middle School (North Allegheny), Mars Area Middle School, Marshall Middle School (North Allegheny), Peters Township Middle School, Pine-Richland Middle School, and Winchester Thurston School (Pittsburgh).

High schools competing in the WPASB, set for Saturday, are Baldwin, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan (Canonsburg), Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), Charleroi Area, Fox Chapel Area, Gateway (Monroeville), Keystone Oaks (Dormont), Lenape Technical School (Ford City), Mars Area, Moon Area, Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, North Hills, Norwin, Parkland (Allentown), Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Sewickley Academy, South Fayette, State College Area, Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills), Upper St. Clair, and Winchester Thurston.

NETL conducted the West Virginia School Bowl on Feb. 6-7 at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory dedicated to innovating and accelerating the nation’s energy solutions in hydrocarbon, geothermal energy and critical minerals production. With research sites in Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, NETL operates as one laboratory to create advanced energy technologies that support DOE’s mission and enable affordable, reliable and secure energy to fuel human prosperity.