UCI to host Brain Bee neuroscience competition for local high school students

EVENT: The Los Angeles/Irvine Brain Bee is an annual local neuroscience competition for high school students. The event includes written and oral questions about brain facts, a tour of the UC Irvine campus, the opportunity to network with professors and students, and scientific demonstrations.

WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, in Room 1100 of Social Science Plaza A (grid F9, bldg. 211 on campus map with parking available in the SSPA lot, grid F10)

INFORMATION: Media planning to attend should contact Tom Vasich at 949-824-6455 or tmvasich@uci.edu. Attendance and parking are complimentary for media who RSVP in advance. Contacts on the day of the event are Kelli Sharp, at 949-510-7968, and Catherine Cahill, at 310-924-9043.

HIGHLIGHTS: 9:30-10 a.m.: Written exam
Students will take the first part of the exam. Parents may ask a panel of neuroscientists questions about college and careers in neuroscience.
10-10:30 a.m.: Lab practicum
Students will take the exam’s second portion, relating specifically to neuroanatomy and employing a real human brain specimen.
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Lecture
Bradley Voytek, assistant professor of computational cognitive science & neuroscience at UC San Diego and adviser to the Zombie Research Society, will offer “A Neuroscientific View of the Zombie Brain.”
2:30-2:45 p.m.: First round of “Jeopardy!”-style Q&A
The 10 students who scored highest on the exam will compete.
2:45-3 p.m.: Second round of “Jeopardy!”-style Q&A
The top five contestants from the previous round will compete.
3-3:20 p.m.: Final round of “Jeopardy!”-style Q&A
The top three contestants from the previous round will compete.
3:20-3:30 p.m.: Trophy ceremony

BACKGROUND: The Brain Bee is designed to stimulate high school students to learn about neuroscience. Like a spelling bee, the Brain Bee allows teens to compete with each other based on their knowledge of neuroscience. The winners of local Brain Bee competitions around the country will each receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Brain Bee, which will take place March 20-22 this year. For more information, see www.losangelesbrainbee.com.