The International Brain Bee Championship

Interested? Great! Follow the links below to get more information just for you!

The International Brain Bee Championship
The International Brain Bee Championship is the highest level in the IBB Competition - participation in the championship is reserved only for Brain Bee competitors who have won at their respective National Brain Bee, and is therefore a very distinguished event. The 2008 Championship will be held May 25th-26th in Montreal, Canada.
Questions for the International Championship will come from the British Neuroscience Association's publication Neuroscience: the Science of the Brain which is available on their website. This resource is available in many different languages to accommodate the needs of our international competitors, but all of the questions at the IBB Championship will be asked in English.
IBB prizes include scholarships, travel awards, trophies and research assignments. Currently, the winner of the International Brain Bee Championship will be awarded $3,000 (USD), a summer research fellowship with an acclaimed neuroscientist, and a traveling trophy for display at his or her school. The second place finisher will receive $2,000, and the third place finisher will receive $1,000.
Individuals interested in supporting the IBB Championship should contact Dr. Norbert Myslinski for more information.

How to Prepare for the International Brain Bee Championship
Questions are based primarily on the book Neuroscience: the Science of the Brain (2003) published by British Neuroscience Association and the European Dana Alliance for the Brain. Go to www.ibro.org and click on Brain Campaign to access the book in the following languages: English, Spanish and Mandarin. Language translations for the future include: French, Portuguese, Greek, Croation, Serbian, Slovene, Armenian, Polish, Russian, Swahili, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi, and Japanese. The official language of the International Brain Bee is English. If the competitor does not understand English, it is recommended that a translator accompany the competitor to the competition. If that is not possible, a translator will be provided if a request is submitted two months in advance of the competition.
The 2008 Championship involves four parts, each worth 25 points. The maximum score is 100 points.
Human Neuroanatomy Practical (25%). This involves competitors rotating through stations consisting of whole and half human brains. Parts of the brains are labeled with pins numbered from 1 to 25. Students must recall the names and/or functions of the indicated parts and write them on their answer sheets. Students can prepare by studying any basic neuroanatomy or neurophysiology textbook or atlas.
Questions with Written Answers (25%). Competitors will be given the same 25 questions orally one at a time. They will have 15 seconds to write the answers on a pad given to them. At the end of the 15 seconds, they will each read their answers out load. Students can prepare by studying Neuroscience: the Science of the Brain (2003)
Patient Diagnosis (25%) Students will spend 5 minutes alone with each of 10 patient actors. By observing them, asking them 3 questions, and ordering 2 laboratory or clinical tests they are to diagnose the patient’s neurological disorder, choosing from one of the following 12 disorders: bipolar disorder, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, schizophrenia, stroke, Tourette Syndrome, neurological AIDS, chronic pain, and autism. Patients are only allowed to answer “yes”, “no” or “I don’t know” to the 3 questions. Students will select from a list of tests and will immediately be given the results to help their diagnosis. Students can prepare by studying the basic signs, symptoms and diagnostic procedures for these disorders.
Questions with Oral Answers (25%) Ten rounds of different questions are asked of each student. They require a one word or phrase answer. Students can prepare by studying Neuroscience: the Science of the Brain (2003)
Note: The four parts may not be in the order presented above. Details of each part may change depending on local circumstances and availability of resources. There will not be a group competition or a written multiple-choice exam this year.

2008 IBB Schedule of Events
A printable schedule of events for the 2008 International Brain Bee Championship can be found here.
The IBB Championship is quickly approaching - check back often for the most up to date information!

Forms | IBB Study Materials| *Extras* | Contact Us

Please send comments, corrections, and link improvements to Web Support.