Photo from the 2023 Canadian National Brain Bee

The Canadian National Brain Bee is a neuroscience competition for high school students, grades 9 through 12. Students study brain and neuroscience research topics including memory, sleep, intelligence, emotion, perception, stress, aging, brain imaging, neurology, neurotransmitters, genetics, brain disease, and more. To compete in the Canadian National, students must first compete in a regional brain bee competition in Canada. The top place winner of each official regional brain bee will advance to the Canadian National level of competition. Finally, the top place champion of the Canadian National Brain Bee will advance to the next level of competition: the International Brain Bee.

Where and When:  The 2024 Canadian National Brain Bee competition will be hosted in two exciting phases. Regional brain bee winners are invited to compete in the first phase, which will be held virtually on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Time of day and other details coming soon. The top 3 competitors from the first phase will win travel and accommodation to compete in the second phase of the Canadian National: the Final Showdown. The Final Showdown will determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and will be held in person at the 2024 Canadian Association for Neurosciences annual meeting in Vancouver on May 19-22, 2024.

Study Resources:  Study materials for the Canadian National Brain Bee competition will be outlined on the Preparing for the National page. Please note that study resources may differ for your own local brain bee. Please check with your local brain bee organizers.

Prizes for the Canadian National Brain Bee:  At the Canadian National Brain Bee, there will be cash prizes and trophies for the top 3 competitors. The top place National champion will also receive an opportunity for an internship in a neuroscience lab. More details coming soon!

International Brain bee: The Canadian National champion will represent Canada at the International Brain Bee competition. In 2024 the IBB will be virtual.

How to complete in the Brain Bee? The first step – study and register for your Local Brain Bee competition:
To compete at the National level, you must first win your local brain bee competition. Your 2024 local brain bee competition may be held remotely or in person. Please check your local brain bee page to find information about registration, date, location, and study materials. If your local brain bee page is not yet updated, you can send an email to your local organizers at the email address listed on the local brain bee page.

Note that any Brain Bee tutoring we offer in Canada as well as the International Brain Bee is free of charge. We are aware that there are other organizations and individuals asking for money for “Brain Bee” courses and tutoring.  Please note that these are not in any way associated or endorsed by the Canadian National Brain Bee or the International Brain Bee.  Interested students should be encouraged to make use of any free available resources.

Brain Bee Boot Camp: Brain Bee Bootcamp is a collaboration between the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) and the International Brain Bee (IBB), and aims to provide equitable resources to all students around the world in preparing for the Brain Bee competitions. The Bootcamp will take place between Saturday, November 18 2023, and Sunday, December 17 2023 (registration deadline was extended to October 14 2023). Please see the boot camp page for more details.

Please read some important information about who can compete in the Canadian National Brain Bee.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CanadianNationalBrainBee.  

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Check out our highlights from previous years under the History and Photos menu at the top of this page.

Congratulations to Mark Piasecki, Winnipeg Brain Bee (FIRST Place), Sienna Su, Hamilton Brain Bee (SECOND Place), and Arla Xiao, Vancouver Brain Bee (THIRD Place), winners of the 2023 Canadian National Brain Bee!
Congratulations to
Mark Piasecki, Winnipeg (FIRST Place),
Sienna Su, Hamilton (SECOND Place),
Arla Xiao, Vancouver (THIRD Place),
winners of the 2023 Canadian National Brain Bee!