This weekend, Questar III student Kathleen Renna from Tamarac High School will travel to Baltimore, Maryland in order to compete in the National Brain Bee competition.
The competition aims to motivate high school students to learn more about the human brain and pursue careers in clinical brain sciences. According to the International Brain Bee (IBB), “the world needs future clinicians and researchers to treat and find cures for more than 1000 neurological and psychological disorders.”
Renna, who attends Questar III’s New Visions: Scientific Research & World Health program, won first place in the Capital District Brain Bee on March 7th. She competed against students from across the region, answering questions about the brain and neuroscience.
Now Renna will be competing at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore (UMB) against students from across the country. Competition topics include neuroanatomy, MRI analysis and patient diagnosis. The Brain Bee also includes a written competition, as well as an oral question-and-answer section.
However it is not “all work and no play.” Participants are given time to explore the UMB Medical School campus and its history, and visit the Medical Museum, the Nursing Museum, and/or the Library Museum. They can also attend neuroscience Brain Bee Talks or a health fair at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The Brain Bee is an international competition offered by the Society for Neuroscience. Local chapters around the country send their winners to the national competition and the U.S. winner will compete against students from around the world in Copenhagen, Denmark this summer. Learn more about the Brain Bee Competition here.
