6000 students compete in brain battle

More than 6000 high school students from across Australia and New Zealand are putting their brainpower to the test today March 18.

The Year 10 students are taking part in round one of the 2009 Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC), the country’s largest competition for budding brain scientists.

The ABBC is coordinated by the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) with support from The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Science and Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

Participants will take part in a written quiz designed to test their knowledge of brain functions such as intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, sleep and addiction.

QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett FAA said that the ABBC was now one of the largest science competitions in the Asia–Pacific.

"There is so much we don’t understand about the brain and how it works, which results in a lot of public misconception about brain disorders such as dementia, depression and schizophrenia," Professor Bartlett said.

"It's therefore encouraging that so many young Australians have an interest in neuroscience and may one day help solve the puzzle of brain disease."

According to ABBC Coordinator and QBI neuroscientist Dr Linda Richards, the best scoring students from round one will progress to the state finals on Tuesday, June 16.

"Winners of each state final will receive microscopes from Zeiss Australasia and progress to the national final, to be held at the Australian Neuroscience Society Meeting in Sydney in January 2010," Dr Richards said.

"The national Brain Bee Challenge winner will again have the opportunity to travel to North America to compete in the International Brain Bee."

Several ABBC finalists from 2008 spent their summer holidays working on research projects in QBI neuroscience laboratories under the supervision of senior research staff.

The Queensland Brain Institute is a world leader in research into brain diseases, including ageing dementia, mental illness, epilepsy, motor neuron disease, MS, stroke and brain and spinal cord injuries.

More information about the Australian Brain Bee Challenge can be found online at www.abbc.edu.au

Media: For more information, images and interviews, please contact QBI communications on (07) 3346 6414.