McMaster's third annual “Brain Bee” will be held this afternoon, (Tuesday, Feb.21). The “Brain Bee” is open to all Hamilton and surrounding area high school students in grades 9 to 12 and this year, there will be more high school students visiting McMaster to compete in it than ever before.

The “Brain Bee” competition is modeled after a spelling bee, with students taking turns answering questions about the brain and neuroscience on topics such as intelligence, memory, emotions, movement, stress, aging and sleep. All questions and answers for the local competition will be selected from a single document, a 65-page primer on the brain and nervous system, published by the Society for Neurosciences(available for free download online).

The student awarded the title of “best brain” in the local competition will receive a travelling trophy for his or her high school and an all-expense paid trip to Baltimore in March to compete with students from all over the world in the international “Brain Bee”.

Students in the international “Brain Bee” compete for a honey pot of prizes including a trophy, a $3,000 US cash scholarship, a trip for two to the annual Society for Neurosciences conference, and a summer fellowship to work in the laboratory of a prominent neuroscientist.

A Titles bookstore gift certificates will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners, while each contestant will receive prizes and a certificate of participation.

The annual McMaster “Brain Bee” is hosted by the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour. Professor Judith Shedden works with a “Brain Bee” crew of McMaster undergraduate and graduate students to coordinate the event.

“The annual 'Brain Bee' is a great opportunity for us to share with local high school students our fascination with brain and neuroscience research, and to encourage them to think about making brain research a career,” she says. “During the competition, high school students will have the opportunity to chat with undergraduate and graduate students about their own brain-related research at McMaster.”

“Our participation in the international competition raises McMaster's profile in the field of neurosciences during brain awareness week, putting McMaster on the map for top high school students across North America. And reaching out to the local community in this way sends a strong message about the importance of this kind of research to incoming students as well as legislators,” says Shedden.

The international “Brain Bee” is part of this year's Brain Awareness Week from March 13-19, 2006. For more information about how to register visit http://brain.mcmaster.ca/BrainBee, or phone Judith Shedden at (905) 525-9140 ext 24345.