The Brain Bee Competition is held at Albany Medical College. Please find all information HERE

All exam questions are derived from information provided in the Brain Facts study guide.

The International Brain Bee, founded in 1999 by Dr. Norbert Myslinsky, is a program of the non-profit Mankind for International Neuroscience Development (MIND) and the largest worldwide neuroscience competition for teenagers. Anyone aged 13-19 can compete, regardless of their academic standing. Divided into local, national, and international levels of competition, the competition tests high school students in neuroscientific skill through examination in academic knowledge, as well as neuroanatomical, neurohistological, MRI, and patient diagnosis applications. First-place winners at local levels proceed to the host country's national competition, after which the national champions are invited to compete at the international level. To date, the competition has more than 150 branches in over 30 nations. Its purpose is to motivate young men and women to learn about the human brain, and to inspire them to enter careers in the basic and clinical brain sciences.

What are the benefits of participating in the International Brain Bee competition?

Awards for the participants and winners of the local and national competitions vary. They usually include certificates, prize money, trophies, and trips for the winner to the next level of the competition. In the IBB Championship, the third place winner receives $1,000; the second place winner receives $2,000, and the first place winner receives $3,000, an individual trophy, a traveling trophy for his or her high school to display, and a summer internship with an esteemed neuroscientist (prizes may vary).

By participating, high school students learn about the brain and its vital function in our lives. They gain an appreciation for neuroscience that might one day lead them to become neurologists or neuroscientists to treat and conquer the very diseases covered in the Brain Bees. Local and National Brain Bee coordinators gain publicity for their companies, programs and institutions when students, their friends and families and even the press come to see the competition. These local and national coordinators as well as our many sponsors can take pride in knowing that they have helped inspire students to become future researchers and physicians.

So...

Do you have an interest in learning about the brain? Do you have the fire of competition in your heart? Then you should consider joining the annual Albany County Brain Bee! This competition is open to any teenager aged 13-19, regardless of their academic standing. The winner of the Local Chapter Competition is invited to compete at the USA Regional Competition. The winner of the USA Regional Competition competes at the World International Competition in Washington (DC)!

All you wanted to know about the Brain Bee Competition

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How to Prepare for Brain Bee Competitions

Students can prepare for Local Brain Bees by studying Brain Facts, a resource published by the Society for Neuroscience.

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Brain Facts is also available as an audio version:

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  • Past Competitions:

2019 - The 14 finalist students and their schools:

  • Alicia Assang - Emma Willard School
  • Kanakaharini Byraju - Shaker High School
  • Nithya Chockalingam - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Monica Gault - Doane Stuart School
  • Vaishali Gupta - Shaker High School
  • Janice Indajang - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Jonathan Indajang - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Gianna Mamone - Albany Academy for Girls - ***2019 WINNER
  • Kavipriya Kovai Palanivel - Shenendehowa Central Schools - ***2019 RUNNER UP
  • Joshua Pellow - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Senbahavalli Ramasamy - Guilderland High School
  • Maya Ravi - Albany Academy for Girls
  • Riane Richard - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Annalese Winegard - Shenendehowa Central Schools

Steering committee:

Kristen Zuloaga (AMC)

Damian Shin (AMC)

Lisa Robison (AMC)

Sophie Belin (AMC)

Ellinor Grinde (AMC)

2018 - The 15 finalist students and their schools:

  • Monica Gault - Doane Stuart School
  • Maria Hancu - Shenendehowa Central Schools - *** 2018 WINNER
  • Sidra Hasan - Guilderland High School
  • Jonathan Indajang - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Dylan Ines - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Susan Jeon - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Rishi Katragadda - Niskayuna High School
  • Sayeed Khan - Guilderland High School
  • Maya Lautenberg - Doane Stuart School
  • Zhen Li - South Colonie High School
  • Gianna Mamone - Albany Academy for Girls
  • Kavipriya Kovai Palanivel - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Raine Richard - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Jin Shang - Guilderland High School
  • Sam Smith - Daone Stuart School

Steering committee:

Brandy Eggan (SUNY Albany)

Ellinor Grinde (AMC)

Lisa Robinson (AMC)

Damian Shin (AMC)

Kristen Zuloaga (AMC)

Sponsored by: AMC, SUNY Albany (Dept. Psychology), Krackeler Scientific, gTech, Zeiss

2017 - The 10 finalist students and their schools:

  • Mateo Boulos - Doane Stuart School
  • Amelia Evans - Bethlehem Central High School
  • Sayeed Khan - Guilderland High School
  • SoYoung Kwon - Emma Willard School
  • Shan Leng - Doane Stuart School - *** 2017 WINNER ***
  • Ksyleigh McCagg - Hudson City School District
  • Kartik Nath - Niskayuna High School
  • Kavipriya Palanivel - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Sam Smith - Doane Stuart School
  • Jennifer Vu - Shenendehowa Central Schools

Steering committee:

Brandy Eggan (SUNY Albany)

Damian Shin (AMC)

Julia Prusik (AMC)

Kristen Zuloaga (AMC)

Sponsored by: AMC

2016 - The 10 finalist students and their schools:

  • Mateo Boulos - Doane Stuart School
  • Amelia Evans - Bethlehem Central High School
  • SoYoung Kwon - Emma Willard School
  • Shan Leng - Doane Stuart School
  • Cindy Pang - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Kavipriya Palanivel - Shenendehowa Central Schools
  • Giuliana Metz - Schalmont High School
  • Jack Ross-Pilkington - Doane Stuart School - *** 2016 WINNER ***
  • Sid Sahai - Clayton Bouton School
  • Jennifer Vu - Shenendehowa Central Schools

Steering committee:

Annalisa Scimemi (SUNY Albany)

Damian Shin (AMC)

Julia Prusik (AMC)

Sponsored by: AMC