The Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Regional Brain Bee Competition on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The event will be jointly sponsored by the UMDNJ Office of the Vice President for Research and the Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology at RWJMS.

The Regional Brain Bee is part of a larger international competition for High School-age students testing their knowledge in the field of Neuroscience run by the Society for Neuroscience based in Washington DC. This is the largest professional Neuroscience society in the world.

The competition involves Regional Brain Bees that are held throughout the US and world in January and February. Regional winners from the US travel to Maryland to compete in the National Brain Bee to be held March 2 - 4, 2013.

Winners from each National Brain Bee then go on to compete in the International Brain Bee against students from around the world. Additional prizes and support will be provided to the winners at each level (see below).

The competition involves both Written and Oral questions related to the field of Neuroscience, and includes topics such as: Brain Development, Regional Brain Function, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Axon Guidance, Learning and Memory, Neurological Disorders, Neurotransmission, among others.

To prepare for the Brain Bee, students should study the 2008 edition of Brain Facts, a publication of the Society for Neuroscience, which can be accessed free of charge here: Brain Facts

To stream or download an audio version of the 2008 edition, follow the links at the bottom of the following page:

http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/brain-facts-book/

Sample questions from past competitions are also available at the IBB website.

Prizes:

Cash prizes will be provided for first through third place:

First place: $300 | Second place: $200 | Third place: $100

In addition, the first place winner will receive up to $1,500 in travel funds to attend the National Brain Bee competition in Maryland in March (competitor + parent).

The US National Champion will receive $1,500, a paid summer internship with an acclaimed neuroscientist, and a trip for two to the International Brain Bee (IBB) Championship. The second and third place finishers will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively.

The winner of the IBB Championship will be awarded $3,000, a summer research fellowship with an acclaimed neuroscientist, and a traveling trophy for display at his or her school. The second and third place finishers will receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

General Rules:

• Students may compete in only one regional brain bee per year.
• Contestants and parents may not use any recording devices or take notes of any kind during the competition.
• Detailed competition rules can be found at the IBB website.

Registration:

The registration is free and open to all students who wish to participate.

Please send the following information via e-mail to: Joan Mordes (mordesja@umdnj.edu)

Registered students will receive further information by email prior to the competition date (directions, program, detailed rules).

Students in the Northern NJ/Newark area may want to consider applying to the UMDNJ/Newark Regional Brain Bee which will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013.

Additional Information:

• Open to all students, parents, teachers, and guests
• Lunch will be provided by the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology
• The Regional Brain Bee Competition Day Schedule will also include opportunities to discuss science, academic careers, and other issues with RWJ Neuroscience professors, research professionals, students and postdoctoral fellows.
• A chance to meet clinical and research Neuroscience faculty at lunch
  
• Competition day schedule will be posted in mid-January.

Contact:

For questions about the Central New Jersey Regional Brain Bee Competition, please contact:
Joan Mordes (mordesja@umdnj.edu) | Michael Matise (matisemp@umdnj.edu)

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