A Queenslander has been named Australia’s ‘neuroscientist of the future’ after the country’s brightest young minds competed in the finals of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABCC) held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday.
ABBC is an initiative of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland (UQ).
Jackson Huang from Queensland Academy of Science, Mathematics and Technology beat seven other Australian finalists and two New Zealanders in a test of brainpower in front of a live audience during a brain-teasing anatomy exam, doctor-patient diagnosis, written test and a neuroscience quiz.
The runner up was Zelda Perri of Presentation College Windsor in Melbourne.
Presenting the award, Education Minister Martin Dixon said the finalists were of an extremely high calibre.
“All the finalists have demonstrated an extraordinary talent, and I hope the Australian and New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge will inspire them to pursue further study in this vitally important field,” he said.
“The community as a whole will be the winners from advances in neuroscience.”
The country’s only neuroscience competition for high school students, ABBC is a test of knowledge about important facts and concepts concerning intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, aging, sleep, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, and is designed to inspire students to pursue careers in neuroscience research.
Jackson has earned the right to compete in the International Brain Bee Competition held in Vienna, Austria (TBC) in 2013. He will receive return international airfares, accommodation and spending money for himself and an accompanying adult to attend the prestigious international competition.
MEDIA: Mikaeli Costello, Queensland Brain Institute, Phone: +61 401 580 685, Email: Mikaeli.Costello@uq.edu.au
NOTES TO THE EDITOR:
Queensland Brain Institute
The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) was established as a research institute of the University of Queensland in 2003. The Institute is now operating out of a new $63 million state-of-the-art facility and houses 33 principal investigators with strong international reputations. QBI is one of the largest neuroscience institutes in the world dedicated to understanding the mechanisms underlying brain function.
Australian Brain Bee Challenge
The Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is recognised by the International Brain Bee competition held in the United States and winners of the ABBC may have the opportunity to participate in the international competition.
The ABBC is calling for entries for students wishing to become 2013 Australian Brain Bee Challenge Champion. Registration is free and teachers may nominate one student through to their whole Year 10 class.
For more information or to register visit http://www.abbc.edu.au/
International Brain Bee
The 2012 International Brain Bee (IBB) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2012. The Australian Brain Bee Challenge Champion and the New Zealand Brain Bee Champion are invited to attend the IBB with flights, accommodation and spending money for the Champion and an accompanying parent included as part of their prize. Conditions apply, please read Terms and Conditions.
http://www.internationalbrainbee.com/
Australian Neuroscience Society
The Australian Neuroscience Society (ANS) is a non-profit organisation of scientists and physicians who study the brain and nervous system and are actively involved in research and teaching. If you have similar interests, we invite you to contact us about joining our society.
