Brain Bee

Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition for high school students in Year 11 to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about the latest discoveries in neuroscience research, dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses and find out about the exciting career opportunities brain research has to offer.

Students at the 2021 Brain Bee event.

The Centre for Brain Research has been running the New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge (NZBBC) since 2007.

The program was started in Australia in 2006 to help build public awareness about neuroscience. The Brain Bee Challenge is run by the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) with the involvement of Education Perfect. Round One and Two are administered by Education Perfect With North Island students also spending a day at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences for Round Two, while South Island students compete and spend the day in Round Two at Otago University.

The winning students from the North Island and South Island Brain Bee compete in Australia for the title of the New Zealand Brain Bee champion. From here the New Zealand winner goes on to compete in the International Competition which is held in a different city each year.