The Brain Bee is a local and international Question & Answer competition, similar to a spelling bee, which tests the neuroscience knowledge of high school students on such topics as brain structures, learning, memory, sleep, vision, and movement. All questions require one-word, or one-phrase answers, and come from the 2018 edition of the book “Brain Facts,” available for download through BrainFacts.org. Please link to: https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book.
Three-Step Process
In a three-step process, a regional competition are held first throughout North America. The regional winners are then invited to the National Brain Bee championship competition typically during Brain Awareness Week. The National Brain Bees are the second qualifying round of the International Brain Bee (IBB) competition where the winners from each country's National Brain Bee will be invited to the International Brain Bee competition.
The Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee will next be held on Sunday March 10th, 2024 starting at 1:00 pm .
Registration:
Registration is free and open to all NJ high school students who wish to participate; however, individuals who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Newark NJ Brain Bee are prohibited from competing in this brain bee again. Please click on the Registration Link to register. Registered students will receive an e-mail confirmation and further information by email prior to the competition date (directions, room location, etc.).
Prizes:
Cash prizes for the Newark NJ Brain Bee will be provided for first through third places:
First place: $300 | Second place: $200 | Third place: $100.
In addition, reasonable travel expenses (lodging, food and transportation) will be reimbursed in accordance with University policy, to the first place winner to attend the National Brain Bee competition in March (competitor + parent/guardian). Also, the winner of the Regional competition will be eligible for a summer internship in the laboratory of a neuroscientist.
The US National Champion will receive $1,500, a paid summer internship with an esteemed neuroscientist, and a trip for two to the International Brain Bee Championship. The second place finisher will receive $1,000, and the third place finisher will receive $500.
Currently, the winner of the International Brain Bee Championship will be awarded $3,000, a summer research fellowship with an acclaimed neuroscientist, a traveling trophy for display at his or her school and an all expenses paid trip to the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting. The second place finisher will receive $2,000, and the third place finisher will receive $1,000.
Information on the Central New Jersey Regional Brain Bee Competition sponsored by RWJMS may be found at:
https://rwjms.rutgers.edu/departments/neuroscience-and-cell-biology/education/central-nj-regional-brain-bee%20competition
Resources
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| Sample Questions |
Rutgers Newark Regional Brain Bee Rules
Students may enter only one regional brain bee competition; however, individuals who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Newark NJ Brain Bee are prohibited from competing in this brain bee again.
A panel of neuroscientists will serve as judges and score-keepers, and their decisions will be final.
The Competition Format
The competition will have two phases.
Round 1:
Contestants will be provided with a 40-50 question Qualtrix Exam that they will take using their own computer or smart device. They will have 30 minutes to complete this exam.
The top 12 students will proceed to Round 2.
Round 2:
Jeopardy-style oral answer test for second-cut finalists
Please note: For Round 2, some questions may include additional material on CNS anatomy, histology, and clinical neurology from diverse sources.
The Newark NJ Brain Bee is Sponsored by the Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI).
“The Brain Health Institute (BHI) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, was established in 2014 to become an internationally recognized center for basic, translational, and clinical research into the biological bases of human brain function and dysfunction. The mission of BHI is to support and coordinate neuroscience across Rutgers University’s dynamic and diverse neuroscience communities toward common goals:
Participants in the 2023 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
2023 Newark NJ Brain Bee Volunteers
Special thanks to (from left to right, Patrick Kelly, Michelle Mangana Mendoza , Kahira Leach, Aashi Sraavya, Rebecca Zaritsky, CJ Levin and Beatrice Suffrant (not pictured).
Top Scoring Students in the 2023 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
Tied for 2nd Place
40 students representing 22 high schools participated in the Rutgers University, Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee. The final competition took place on March 5th, 2023. Congratulations to Atharva Katkar (11th grade - Hillsborough High School, NJ ) who took first place. Congratulations also to Ellie Campbell (11th grade - Horace Mann School, NY) and Monica Manescu (11th grade - Academy for Allied Health Sciences, NJ) who tied for 2nd place and to Sanjay Kasavan (10th grade - Morris County School of Technology Healthcare Academy, NJ) who placed 3rd.
The organizers are grateful to:
The Office of Vice President for Research-RBHS
Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience-NJMS
Rutgers-School of Graduate Studies
Turning Technologies
NJ STEM High School Teachers
2022 Newark NJ Brain Bee
Twenty-four students representing 15 high schools participated in the Rutgers University, Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee. The final competition took place on Feb 27th, 2022. Congratulations to Anmol Bhatia (Watchung Hills Regional High School ) who took first place. Congratulations also to Navneeth Murali (Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences) who took 2nd place, and Luke Mosca (Paramus Catholic High School) who placed 3rd.
After winning the Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee Anmol proceeded to win the USA National Brain Bee and he then took 2nd place in the International Brain Bee.
Here’s an interview with Anmol about his experience at the IBB.
The organizers are grateful to:
The Office of Vice President for Research-RBHS
Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience-NJMS
Brain Bee Organizers at the U. of Minnesota
Turning Technologies
NJ STEM High School Teachers
Meet the Participants of the 2020 Newark NJ Brain Bee
Twenty-nine students representing 16 high schools participated in the Rutgers Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee held on the RBHS Newark campus on February 9th, 2020. Congratulations to Angela Lin (Academy for Allied Health Sciences) who took first place. Congratulations also to Badri Raghavan from Montville Township High School who took 2nd place; Keshav Ratra (West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North) and Aravind Krishnan (Hillsborough High School) who tied for 3rd place. Also, pictured are event organizers, Dolunay Kanal Hur (SGS, Master's student), Terri Wood, (NJMS Faculty), Steven Levison (NJMS Faculty) and Michelle Frondelli (SGS, 5th yr PhD Student).
Organizer for the Newark NJ Brain Bee:
Steven W. Levison, PhD
Professor of Neuroscience
Director, Laboratory for Regenerative Neurobiology
Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience
Rutgers University
RBHS-New Jersey Medical School
Cancer Center, H-1226
205 South Orange Ave
Newark, NJ, 07103
PH (973) 972-5162
Fax (973) 972-2668
Email:Steve.levison@Rutgers.edu.
http://njms.rutgers.edu/resource_locator/find_people/profile.cfm?mbmid=levisosw#tab-bio
John Yang went on to win the 2019 National Brain Bee
Left to right
Julia Collin, Piscataway, New Jersey, Second Place
John Yang, Newark, New Jersey, First Place
Claire Wang, Los Angeles, California, Third Place
Click here for the press release
Meet the Participants of the 2019 Newark NJ Brain Bee
Twenty-nine students representing 16 high schools participated in the Rutgers Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee held on the RBHS Newark campus on February 10th, 2019. Congratulations to John Yang from Princeton High School (1st place) and to Angela Lin, Academy for Allied Health Sciences and Claire Ho from Ridge High School who tied for 2nd place. Also pictured are event organizers, Vanessa Swantic (NJMS, 2nd yr), Michelle Frondelli, (SGS, 3rd yr), Vincent Dodson (NJMS, 4th yr), Steven Levison (NJMS Faculty) and Hunter Lanovoi (SGS, 1st yr).
Keynote speaker, Dr. Catherine Mazzola
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