The team dominated the competition with a 130-90 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The Wildlife Society (TWS) hosts the annual student quiz bowl each spring. The quiz bowl is a fast-paced competition for students studying wildlife in states including California, Hawaii, and Nevada. In teams of four to five, the students put their knowledge to the test on topics ranging from ecology to conservation techniques to taxonomy by spelling scientific names, identifying skulls, analyzing wildlife history and management, and more, according to the society.
Cal Poly Humboldt has participated in the quiz bowl since 1965, either as a host or competitor. Over the past 60 years, the University has secured first place in 30 of the 49 competitions and finished as the runner-up in 12 more. Humboldt has also hosted the event, most recently in 1998 and 2011, sitting out of the competition when serving as host.
TWS also hosts a national quiz bowl in the fall of each year as part of its Annual Conference. The national competition will occur in October in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Humboldt has competed in TWS’s National Quiz Bowl since 2001, earning first place in 12 out of 20 of those competitions.
Competing in the competition takes months of preparation. As part of their training, students enroll in the WLDF 482 Wildlife Conclave course, where they study wildlife topics and sharpen their skills for the quiz bowl.
Attending the quiz bowls aren’t just an opportunity to solidify Humboldt’s dominance in the field, they’re a great opportunity to stay informed about recent research, network with employers, and find mentorship, says student Emma Leininger.
“Through other events and meetups, you get to meet many alumni and learn about the legacy Humboldt has in wildlife and the sense of community certainly carries on past graduation,” Leininger adds.
Daniel Meng, a quiz bowl competitor, emphasizes that taking part in the conference and competition strengthens connections between coursework and peers—relationships that often extend beyond graduation and can even lead to job opportunities.