Meet Queensland's new Brain Bee champ

Brisbane student Shambhavi Mishra has been crowned the 2016 Queensland Brain Bee champion at The University of Queensland.

Shambhavi, 15, from the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology outsmarted 126 other finalists from 48 Queensland schools to take the title.

The state final of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge was held at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, with a strong field of competitors making for a nail-biting finish.  

Shambhavi was elated to have won the state final.  

“I would really like to have a future in science,” she said.

“Neuroscience is a really interesting field. There’s so much happening in it right now, and there’s so much more to discover.”  

Shambhavi will compete in the Australian national final in Hobart in December. 

In the past five years, two Queensland champions have won the national and international Brain Bee competitions.

Dr Bruno van Swinderen said Shambhavi should be proud of her achievement.

“She joins the long line of remarkable state champions Queensland has produced,” Dr van Swinderen said.

“The Queensland Brain Bee Challenge brings together some of the brightest young minds in the state.” 

“It was fantastic to see so many students with a keen interest in neuroscience, and we hope that they consider a rewarding career in research," Dr van Swinderen said.

The Brain Bee is a competition for year 10 students to learn about the brain and its functions.

The challenge was founded in 2006 by QBI’s Deputy Director (Research) Professor Linda Richards.

Top image: Nick Valmas, QBI. 

Team winners above are Alexander Cheng, Sonu Jay, teacher Chipo Gweshe, Na-Kyung Kim, Alex Swift.

Media: Kirsten Macgregor, k.macgregor@uq.edu.au, 07 3346 6416.