To celebrate Brain Awareness Week, the Australian Brain Bee Challenge opens the first round of its nation-wide competition this week.
The Brain Bee Challenge, initiated by The University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) in 2006, is designed to inspire students to pursue careers in neuroscience research and is the only neuroscience competition in the country for high school students.
QBI researcher Professor Linda Richards said that during Round 1 of the competition, students would sit a 40-minute multiple-choice online quiz at their school, on a day and time to suit class timetables during Brain Awareness Week (11 March - 15 March) or in the following week (18 March - 22 March).
The Brain Bee Challenge tests students’ knowledge of facts they have learnt from the free downloadable book Neuroscience, science of the brain about topics such as intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, ageing, sleep, Alzheimer's disease, stroke and other neurological disorders.
“Students who score well in the Round 1 quiz will be selected to progress to the Round 2 State Finals held at a university in each capital city, for a fun-filled day of team and individual challenges and activities,” she said.
“The individual winners of each State Final progress to the ABBC National Finals. The two National Final Champions have the opportunity to compete in the International Brain Bee competition overseas,” Professor Richards said.
Students can win great prizes for their schools and themselves. Prizes include travel and accommodation for winning students and their guardian to attend the Round 3 National Final and the International Brain Bee competition overseas.
“Teachers may enter an individual student, a small group or even their entire Year 10 class for this great experience,” Professor Richards said.
For more information, please visit www.abbc.edu.au
Media contact: Mikaeli Costello, +61 401 580 685, Mikaeli.Costello@uq.edu.au
