PORTLAND — University of Southern Maine professors Robert Sanford and Robert Kuech were honored recently for establishing a regional segment of the National Science Bowl competition.

Sanford, an environmental science professor, and Kuech, an associate professor of education, started the Northern New England Regional Science Bowl 10 years ago.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu presented a 10th anniversary plaque to each professor at the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The event included a team from Falmouth High School who won the regional competition in February.