2017 Australian Brain Bee Challenge begins

13 Mar 2017

To coincide with Brain Awareness Week, the first round of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge will run nation-wide from 13 to 17 March this year.

The Australian Brain Bee Challenge was pioneered by The University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) in 2006 in an effort to promote neuroscience careers to Australia’s youth, and is currently the only neuroscience competition in the country for high school students.

The challenge will see year 10 students compete in neuroscience quizzes for the winning title.

The Brain Bee Challenge tests students’ understanding of the brain as learnt from a free downloadable book Neuroscience, science of the brain, and covers an array of topics as varied as intelligence, memory, emotions, sleep, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and other neurological disorders.

Round 1 involves an online 45-minute multiple choice quiz administered by Education Perfect, taken by students at their school at a suitable time between 13 – 24 March 2017 to coincide with Brain Awareness week (13 – 19 March).  

In Round 2, students who performed highly on the first round then compete in their regional finals in all Australian States and Territories between July and August this year at various academic institutions.

The Queensland round will be held at QBI on 18 July this year.

“Students take part in two rounds of live questioning to determine the regional Brain Bee champion, but are also included in various activities to educate them about neuroscience research, including lab tours, lectures, demonstrations, and various other opportunities to learn about neuroscience in the workplace,” said Associate Professor Bruno Van Swinderen, who is coordinating the competition.

The third round sets the eight regional champions against each other to become the overall Australian Brain Bee Champion, with the opportunity to progress into the International Brain Bee competition.

“This is a great experience that brings students into the exciting world of neuroscience,” Professor van Swinderen said.

Teachers can enter their students as individuals, small groups, or even an entire class.

Register online now.

 

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