The Australian Brain Bee Challenge is an annual competition for students in Year 10 (AUS) and Year 11 (NZ) to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses.
The program was started in Australia in 2006 to address a number of deficiencies in the public's perception of science in general, and neuroscience in particular.
The Brain Bee Challenge provides current and accurate information on the latest advances in neuroscience research, its value to the community, and promote careers in science and technology.
This event is free, and is funded by the Australasian Neuroscience Society. Winners of Round 1 progress to further rounds of the Brain Bee Challenge, culminating in the International Brain Bee World Championships.
The ABBC aims:
- to highlight what the brain does, how it functions and how important it is to everything we do and who we are as human beings. Simple knowledge of this nature provides self-esteem, dispels superstitions and misconceptions (for example topics such as where emotions reside), and explains the importance of enhancing your brain's potential through learning, exercise and avoidance of illicit drugs.
- to educate teachers and students on the latest scientific findings and to explain how important research and discovery is to our community, as well as to generally improve scientific literacy in our community.
- to provide opportunities for students from remote areas of Australia and New Zealand to participate in the competition and to challenge all students to consider a career in Science and Neuroscience in particular.
- to promote the study of neuroscience as a multidisciplinary endeavour (encompassing all basic scientific disciplines including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, psychology, medicine and bio- and nano-technologies). The future of all fields of science is that disciplines that once seemed to have no relevance to one another are now coming together and science education is lagging behind this advance. Neuroscience can help bridge these disciplines.
Information for Teachers
Please click here for teacher resources.
Brain Bee Challenge Rounds - 2025 Information
To learn more about the plans for the 2025 Brain Bee click here.
Contact our ABBC / Brain Bee Coordinators
Click here to get in touch with the ABBC our or Brain Bee Coordinators.