The Halifax Brain Bee returns with great success
The Halifax Brain Bee competition took place on Apiril 29, held at the Brain Repair Centre at Dalhousie University. For the first time in 10 years, the competition took place in-person hosted by the BRC. This year saw the highest turnout yet.
12 high school students from around Nova Scotia came to Dalhousie University to participate, where they were tested on the basics of neuroscience, from areas associated with human cognition to motor function to subconscious functions like breathing and maintaining a steady heartbeat.
After two rounds of testing, the students were taken on lab tours by trainees and instructors. The students were able to see first-hand what neuroscience research in a lab looks like, strengthening their interests and potential to enter this field of study. “This is all so cool, I definitely want to study neuroscience in college,” said one of the winners, Shabad Kaur.
The students came from various schools around the province to compete and the winning students were:
1st place - Alyanna Delos Reyes from Lockview High School
2nd place - Shabad Kaur from Halifax West High School
3rd place - Linda Jin from King’s-Edgehill School
The students received medals for their placements and first place winner Alyanna Delos Reyes will go on to compete in the National Brain Bee, a two-day event which will be held on May 27 and 28. More photos of the event can be found on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #BrainBee2022.
Coordinator Dr. William Baldridge said he felt “proud” of the students and “grateful” they chose to participate. In closing, BRC Director Dr. Victor Rafuse encouraged the students to consider studying neuroscience in their future .
The BRC looks forward to next year’s Brain Bee, and many of the students said they’ll “definitely” be returning.