Standard Brain Bee 

The Brain Bee is the premier neuroscience competition for teenagers that tests their knowledge of the nervous system. The mission of the Brain Bee is to motivate students to learn about the brain and to inspire them to pursue careers in neuroscience so they can help treat and find cures for brain disorders.
The competition, which operates in over 70 regional and 30 national locations, starts at the local level, which is typically from January to March in the U.S.. Each local competition sends their winner to the National level to compete with the other finalists for the championship spot, typically in April. The winner of the National level then has the opportunity to represent their country at the International Brain Bee.
Students are tested on all areas of neuroscience, including brain functions like sensation, movement, intelligence, and consciousness; research techniques; patient diagnosis skills; histopathological analysis; and neuroanatomical identification. Most local competitions are formatted as a written test, an oral test, or both. Higher levels are more advanced with labs and mock patients.

Course Description and Syllabus 

OVERVIEW 

The SpringLight Standard Brain Bee class will prepare students for neuroscience topics that are covered at the Brain Bee. This is the standard portion of the SpringLight Brain Bee series. Class content will be primarily based on the Brain Facts Book by the Society for Neuroscience, the recommended textbook for the competition. This class will consist of 10 weeks of 2-hour sessions each week led by Veda Dayananda, a U.S. National Brain Bee competitor and experienced tutor. Classes will consist of interactive learning sessions with practice questions and mock exams. Students will also have homework assigned after each class. 

Reference book: The Brain Facts Book 

No prerequisites

For 7th - 12th graders. Motivated 6th graders are encouraged.

TIMELINE 

Class time: 4-6pm(PT)/7-9pm(ET), Saturday; 8/5 -10/28/2023

Tuition: $850

Registration link https://forms.gle/uRaThBM4zqEiuCha6

Class 1st hour 2nd hour Class dates
1 Chapter 1: Brain Basics Chapter 2: Senses & Perception Sat, Aug 5
2 Chapter 3: Movement Chapter 4: Learning, Memory, & Emotions Sat, Aug 12
3 Chapter 5: Thinking, Planning, and Language Chapter 6: The Developing Brain Sat, Aug 19
4 Chapter 7: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Brain Chapter 8: Adult & Aging Brain Sat, Aug 26
5 Chapter 9: Brain States Chapter 10: The Body in Balance Sat, Sep 2
6 Chapter 11: Childhood Disorders Chapter 12: Psychiatric Disorders Sat, Sep 9
7 Chapter 13: Addiction Chapter 14: Injury & Illness Sat, Sep 16
8 Chapter 15: Neurodegenerative Disease Chapter 16: Kinds of Research Sat, Sep 23
9 Chapter 17: Solving Human Problems Chapter 18: Neuroscience In Society Sat, Sep 30
10 Student presentations Student presentations Sat, Oct 7
11 Mock Brain Bee Mock Brain Bee Sat, Oct 14
12 Advanced topics: anatomy Advanced topics: anatomy Sat, Oct 21
13 Advanced topics: histology Advanced topics: patient diagnosis Sat, Oct 28

 

Instructor

Veda Dayananda is fascinated by everything scientific, especially neuroscience and biomedical research. In 8th grade, she was the youngest champion of the Atlanta Brain Bee and represented Georgia at the U.S. National Brain Bee, where she placed 4th. Veda enjoys tutoring students in neuroscience. She founded and currently leads the Youth Neuroscience Association of Charlotte, a community for high schoolers to meet at UNC Charlotte to explore the wonders of the brain. In school, she takes college courses in science and math; in freshman year, she scored a 5 in AP Biology. In her spare time, Veda enjoys classical piano, painting, and tennis.