The Brain Bee Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for Year 11 students and their teachers to work together to learn more about the human brain and the importance of neuroscience in our everyday lives. Neuroscience is such an exciting area of modern science that is tremendous fun!

While this is a competition to identify the ‘best brains’ in New Zealand it is also an opportunity to develop teaching modules around brain structure and function and neurological diseases. This is such an important area of science and with our aging population it is vital that we all have an understanding of the impact that diseases of the Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) have on both the health and economic status of New Zealand and New Zealanders themselves.

Round 2 of the Competition is the highlight with a fabulous day spent at The University of Otago, participating in both team and individual competitions, with laboratory visits and a chance to meet and talk with neuroscientists and graduate students undertaking research in a wide range of neuroscience areas.

The Brain Bee Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in a great event; fun on the day, great prizes to be won and a truly valuable introduction to the importance of science in everyone’s lives.

So rise to the Challenge and come on board!

Dr Stephen Bunn
Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology
The University of Otago