ORONO – Food will be on the minds of college students attending a competition at the University of Maine today, but the “Jeopardy”-style event is no pie-eating contest.

The North Atlantic Area Food Science College Bowl, sponsored by the Institute of Food Technologists, will test students’ knowledge of topics ranging from microbiology and food chemistry to sensory evaluation and food product engineering. The public is welcome to watch the competition.

Participating teams consist of two graduate and two undergraduate students and represent UMaine, Cornell, University of Delaware, Rutgers University, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Penn State. The winning team will compete in a national institute competition in Las Vegas in July.

Competition begins at 1:30 p.m. today in Room 100, Donald P. Corbett Business Building.

As in the popular TV game show “Jeopardy,” team members will sound a buzzer when they know the answer to a question. Teams with the most points move to the next round.

Scientists and researchers in the food industry will serve as judges for the competition. Business sponsors include World Harbors Inc., Bake-n-Joy Inc., Hans Kissle, Old Mother Hubbard, the Northeast Section of the Institute of Food Technologists, and The Store Ampersand in Orono.

“For many of these students, it will be their first look and impression of UMaine,” said Caitlin Jamison, a UMaine undergraduate and team member from Hampden. “Some students will look around and may consider UMaine as a place to attend graduate school.”

Jamison entered UMaine to study microbiology and was attracted by the diversity and applications in food science.

The UMaine team consists of Jamison, Bethany Bernier, Garland; Kristi Crowe, Baton Rouge, La.; Mark Correy, Wilton, N.H.; Sarah Reiner, Lompoc, Calif.; and Natasha D’Souza, India. They also are members of the Food Science Club whose adviser is associate professor and team coach, Denise Skonberg.