University of Waterloo Brain Bee

Check back in November for information on 2015 University of Waterloo Brain Bee.

For more information, email brainbee@uwaterloo.ca, or see the Brain Bee Poster (PDF).

What is a brain bee?

A Brain Bee is a competition for high school students, where competitors answer questions about the brain and neuroscience.

Students study topics on memory, sleep, intelligence, emotion, perception, stress, aging, brain imaging, neurology, neurotransmitters, genetics, and brain disease (just to list a few). They then compete in a one-day competition with other local students to determine a winner, who may proceed to the national or international competition.

The University of Waterloo’s Department of Kinesiology is proud to host the annual University of Waterloo Brain Bee. It is an exciting opportunity for students to learn about the brain and the importance of brain research. It also provides the opportunity to visit the University and to meet some of our students and professors who are involved with these areas.

Who?

The competition at the University of Waterloo is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in the Region of Waterloo.

When?

The University of Waterloo Brain Bee will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. until 2 p.m. Registered students should arrive by 9:45 a.m. to sign in. 

Where?

The University of Waterloo Brain Bee will be held in the Sun Life Financial Auditorium, Room 1621, in the Lyle S. Hallman Institute Building (LHI) at the University of Waterloo. See LHI on the uWaterloo campus map.

Parking is available in Lot "M" ($6) adjacent to the Lyle S. Hallman Institute Building, or for free in Lot "X" behind the Optometry building on Hagey Boulevard (approx. 5 min. walk). Please refer to the uWaterloo campus map (Lot X is at top of map; scroll or use arrow keys to see full map).

What to expect?

Lots of fun, 1st, 2nd place prizes ($400.00 and $100.00 respectively), a great chance to visit the university. Experience your next steps to stardom! Lunch and snacks will be provided for all participants. 

The quiz will take place using "clickers" that involve pressing a button to indicate your answer. Your answer will not be available to any of the other competitors or the audience. A computer will tally the results.

Your family and friends are welcome to come and take the quiz also, space permitting. However, their "clicker" answers will not be counted towards winning the competition.

How?

1. Download the free "Neuroscience - Science of the Brain" publication provided by the British Neuroscience Association. Study the information contained in this book.

2. For assistance with studying, review the information and sample questions on the International Brain Bee website.

3. Reference the free "Brain Facts" publication provided by the Society for Neuroscience. This is the old Brain Bee study guide, and can be used as an extra source of information.

National and international brain bees

The winner of the local Brain Bee will compete in the National Brain Bee. The winner of the National Brain Bee will compete in the International Brain Bee (IBB), where competitors across the globe will compete for the international title and prizes.