Wales Brain Bee competition is back!

Science students from eight schools in Wales are now preparing to compete in the sixth annual Wales Brain Bee at Cardiff University on Wednesday 13 December.

The aim of the competition, which will take place at the Sir Martin Evans and Hadyn Ellis buildings in Cardiff, is to motivate young people to learn more about the brain while supporting their A/AS-Level curriculum.

With hopes of inspiring students to consider a career in neuroscience, the event also offers a great opportunity for participants to make friends with other science students from across Wales.

Competitive

Almost 80 students have been invited to take part in this year’s regional event, which is part of an International Brain Bee competition initiated by Dr Norbert Myslinski from University of Maryland in 1998 for high school pupils.

The Wales Brain Bee involves teams of up to 10 students competing in a series of neuroscience-themed challenges, including a mix of practical lab work, video clips and written exercises.

The highest scoring school or college will be awarded the Wales Brain Bee shield, with a first prize trophy presented to the individual winner along with Amazon gift vouchers worth £50, £25 and £10 for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place students respectively.

Inspiring the next generation

“Educating young minds about the importance of our body’s most vital organ is a key priority for us,” said NMHRI Engagement Lead Professor Frank Sengpiel, Head of Neuroscience Division in School of Biosciences.

“By making learning fun and throwing in a competitive element, we hope our Wales Brain Bee will capture the students’ imaginations to inspire the next generation of world-leading scientists in biomedical brain research.”

With content focused upon the school curriculum and Cardiff University’s key research themes, students are encouraged to think about effective therapies for brain conditions such as Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.

This year’s competing schools include: Ysgol Llanhari, Brynteg Comprehensive School, Cathedral School,  St Cyres School, Coleg Gwent (Crosskeys), Stanwell School, Whitchurch School and Newport High School.