Location:
2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver
Date:
April 5th, 2025
We would like to invite all BC high school students to participate in the 17th annual Vancouver Brain Bee! The Brain Bee embraces the principle that science is for everyone. All students in grades 9 to 12, regardless of their neuroscience background or preparation, are encouraged to participate in the Brain Bee. The Brain Bee is not just a test; it is an opportunity for high school students to visit a local university, interact with university students, staff and faculty, and be exposed to neuroscience research.
This year, the Brain Bee will be held on Saturday, April 5th at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (2215 Wesbrook Mall, University of British Columbia) in the Rudy North Lecture theatre LL101.
Currently, Brain Bees takes place in 30 countries all over the world and the competitions are organized in three tiers: local, national and international. The Vancouver Brain Bee is one of many local Canadian Brain Bees and the winner of this competition will go on to compete (virtually) in the first phase of the National Competition on April 25th, 2025. The Final National Showdown will be in-person at the 2025 Canadian Association for Neurosciences annual conference between May 21st and 24th 2025, hosted in Toronto, ON. The winner of the National Brain Bee will then go on to represent Canada in the International Brain Bee (virtually) between September 27th and October 5th 2025 (dates are tentative). The top five winners from the International Brain Bee will get to travel to Boston, MA in 2026 to attend the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC).
Join us for this in-person event that brings together brain enthusiasts from all over to test their knowledge and skills in a friendly and competitive environment. Challenge yourself, meet like-minded individuals, and discover the fascinating world of neuroscience. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to expand your knowledge and have a brain-tastic time!
Please register for the Brain Bee only if you plan to attend the event (only students need to sign up – do not include parents/guardians in the registration). The Brain Bee runs on volunteer hours and donor funding, thus no-shows come at a cost to the organizing university. If you happen to register but cannot attend, please email your local Brain Bee in advance to let them know of your withdrawal from the competition. Thank you so much for your kind consideration!
**IMPORTANT DATES**
Local Brain Bee: Saturday April 5th 2025 in-person at the University of British Columbia.
First Phase of National Competition: Friday April 25th 2025 virtually.
Final National Showdown: The top three competitors from the first phase of the National Competition then compete in Toronto, ON at the 2025 Canadian Association for Neurosciences (CAN) annual conference between May 21st and 24th 2025.
International Brain Bee (IBB): September 27th to October 5th 2025 (dates are tentative) virtually.
The top five winners from the IBB will travel to Boston, MA in 2026 to attend the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC)!
**NEW THIS YEAR**
Introducing NeuroCircles: Your Path to Brain Bee Success!
What better way to prepare for the Vancouver Brain Bee than with the help of UBC’s very own Neuroscience students and staff! NeuroCircles is a UBC student-led initiative designed to help participants prepare for the Vancouver Brain Bee 2025 by deepening their understanding of key neuroscience concepts. Starting February 8th through March 15th, we’ll be hosting weekly Zoom lectures every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM (PST). Each session will feature a 30-minute lecture followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with experts in the field.
Our sessions will cover essential topics, including:
🧠 Overview of the Nervous System
🗺️ Neuroanatomy
⚡ Neurons and Action Potentials
🔄 Plasticity, Learning, and Memory
👀 Vision
💤 Sleep
These sessions are a great way to engage with neuroscience in a supportive, interactive environment and prepare for the Brain Bee competition!
📋 Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gJIN798VR6hd1l6LIc5kE8pUpKyobOfeBvIkbdvrMvE/edit
We can’t wait to see you there!
A huge thank you to our sponsors for this event!
What to expect on the day of the Local Brain Bee!
The winner of the Local Brain Bee will advance to the first phase of National Competition, where they will compete for the opportunity to advance to the Final National Showdown hosted at the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) Science Conference this year! Refer to the Brain Bee main page for more information.
Brain Bee participants can expect a day filled with exposure to neuroscience research laboratories, interactive demonstrations, and connecting with other students that have similar academic interests.
This event is a great opportunity to engage with university level students, professors, and internationally renowned research facilities. Plus food will be provided!
- 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM: Check-In for Registrants
- 10:30 AM – 10:40 AM: Opening Remarks
- 10:50 AM – 11:40 AM: Presentation by Dr. Claudia Krebs
- 11:50 AM – 12:50 PM: Exam Period
- 12:50 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch Break – Food Provided
- 2:10 PM – 3:40 PM: Lab Tours
- 3:50 PM – 4:20 PM: Top 5 Oral Exam
- 4:30 PM – 4:40 PM: Presentation of Certificates
- 4:50 PM – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Study content
Questions will be based on content from “Brain Facts” and “Neuroscience: Science of the Brain” textbooks. The exam consists of multiple choice questions, short answer, diagram labelling, and more! It will test a variety of fields within neuroscience, from the cellular mechanisms to whole brain functionality. The vastness of neuroscience is what makes it such a fascinating mystery, so be prepared to be challenged!
This being said, don’t fret! There is plenty of useful content to help you learn about the brain; from helpful textbooks, to an incredible youtube video series if you’re more of a visual learner.
Brain Facts (2018 edition)
Additional study tools
More of the award-winning neuroanatomy educational video series by UBC’s own Dr. Claudia Krebs can be found here!