Australian Brain Bee Challenge

The Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is a competition for high school students in Year 10 to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses. Round 1 of the competition saw 870 students from 42 schools participate in Victoria and 4300 students from 230 schools across Australia and New Zealand.

In March, five of our Berwick Grammar School Year 10 students competed in Round 1 of the challenge, facilitated by myself and David Diston. Of the five, four boys, including Riley Kilpatrick, Oliver Ward, Max Walton Briggs and Max McCahy, successfully made it through to Round 2. Riley Kilpatrick, was the top scoring student for BGS.

Round 2, the Victorian State Final, will be held at the Melbourne Brain Centre at the University of Melbourne in July. The boys will take part in an individual challenge to determine the 2018 ABBC Victorian Champion, a team challenge and tours of selected neuroscience laboratories within the Melbourne Brain Centre.

Prizes this year include a giant model of the human brain, trophies, cash prizes and a range of wonderful classic and contemporary neuroscience books.

If the boys are successful they will go onto the National and hopefully International Championships.

Alice Carlisle