In an annual "battle of the brains," Santa Monica High School placed first in the regional Science Bowl held on Saturday, Feb. 7, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. The event is an astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, mathematics and physics competition for Southern California high school students.

In a close final round, Santa Monica High School ultimately pulled ahead of challenger Arcadia High School with a score of 124-92. University High School in Los Angeles placed third. About 100 math- and science-savvy students from 24 high schools in Los Angeles and Orange counties competed in the Science Bowl.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Santa Monica has captured first place. By doing so, the team will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., on April 30 through May 5. Santa Monica High will go head to head with dozens of other regional winners. Last year, the team won the National Science Bowl, and Santa Monica High coach Ingo Gaida said he hopes to reprise the win this year.

JPL has hosted the regional Science Bowl for 17 years. The U.S. Department of Energy created the event in 1991 to encourage students to study and pursue careers in science and math. The competition attracts about 17,000 middle and high school students nationwide.