Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee
The Brain Bee, sponsored by the BHI, is a local and international Question & Answer competition, similar to a spelling bee, which tests the neuroscience knowledge of high school students on such topics as brain structures, learning, memory, sleep, vision, and movement. All questions require one-word, or one-phrase answers, and come from the 2018 edition of the book “Brain Facts,” available for download through BrainFacts.org.
In a three-step process, a regional competition is held first throughout North America. The regional winners are then invited to the National Brain Bee championship competition typically during Brain Awareness Week. The National Brain Bees are the second qualifying round of the International Brain Bee (IBB) competition where the winners from each country's National Brain Bee will be invited to the International Brain Bee competition.
2024 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
Fifty students representing 22 New Jersey high schools participated in the 16th Rutgers University, Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee. The final competition took place on March 10th, 2024. Congratulations to Shaheryar Zeb (11th grade - Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, NJ) who took first place. Congratulations also to Arjun Venkateswaran (9th grade - Woodbridge Academy Magnet School) who took 2nd place and to Saharsh Bangaru (9th grade - Bridgewater-Raritan High School) who placed 3rd in the competition.
Gratitude to judges Dr. Michael Shiflett and Dr. Teresa Wood. Special recognition to Dr. Machteld Hillen for her insightful neurology presentation and Michael Shiflett for his discussion on neuroscience research at Rutgers-Newark.
The organizers are grateful to: The Brain Health Institute, The Office of Vice President for Research-RBHS, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience-NJMS, Rutgers-School of Graduate Studies, and NJ STEM High School Teachers
2023 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
Forty students representing 22 high schools participated in the Rutgers University, Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee. The final competition took place on March 5th, 2023. Congratulations to Atharva Katkar (11th grade - Hillsborough High School, NJ ) who took first place. Congratulations also to Ellie Campbell (11th grade - Horace Mann School, NY) and Monica Manescu (11th grade - Academy for Allied Health Sciences, NJ) who tied for 2nd place, and to Sanjay Kasavan (10th grade - Morris County School of Technology Healthcare Academy, NJ) who placed 3rd.
The organizers are grateful to: The Office of Vice President for Research-RBHS, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience-NJMS, Rutgers-School of Graduate Studies, Turning Technologies, and NJ STEM High School Teachers
2022 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
Twenty-four students representing 15 high schools participated in the Rutgers University, Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee. The final competition took place on Feb 27th, 2022. Congratulations to Anmol Bhatia (Watchung Hills Regional High School ) who took first place. Congratulations also to Navneeth Murali (Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences) who took 2nd place, and Luke Mosca (Paramus Catholic High School) who placed 3rd.
After winning the Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee Anmol proceeded to win the USA National Brain Bee and he then took 2nd place in the International Brain Bee. Here is an interview with Anmol about his experience at the IBB. Read more about the 2022 International Brain Bee here.
The organizers are grateful to: The Office of Vice President for Research-RBHS, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience-NJMS, Brain Bee Organizers at the U. of Minnesota, Turning Technologies, NJ STEM High School Teachers
2020 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
Twenty-nine students representing 16 high schools participated in the Rutgers Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee held on the RBHS Newark campus on February 9th, 2020. Congratulations to Angela Lin (Academy for Allied Health Sciences) who took first place.
Congratulations also to Badri Raghavan from Montville Township High School who took 2nd place; Keshav Ratra (West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North) and Aravind Krishnan (Hillsborough High School) who tied for 3rd place. Also, pictured are event organizers, Dolunay Kanal Hur (SGS, Master's student), Terri Wood, (NJMS Faculty), Steven Levison (NJMS Faculty) and Michelle Frondelli (SGS, 5th yr PhD Student).
2019 Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee
Twenty-nine students representing 16 high schools participated in the Rutgers Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee held on the RBHS Newark campus on February 10th, 2019. Congratulations to John Yang from Princeton High School (1st place) and to Angela Lin, Academy for Allied Health Sciences and Claire Ho from Ridge High School who tied for 2nd place. Also pictured are event organizers, Vanessa Swantic (NJMS, 2nd yr), Michelle Frondelli, (SGS, 3rd yr), Vincent Dodson (NJMS, 4th yr), Steven Levison (NJMS Faculty) and Hunter Lanovoi (SGS, 1st yr).
Congratulations to Claire Wang (right), Los Angeles, California, Third Place, Julia Collin (left), Piscataway, New Jersey, Second Place, and John Yang (middle), Newark, New Jersey, First Place. John Yang went on to win the 2019 National Brain Bee. Read the press release here.
Registration:
Registration is free and open to all NJ high school students who wish to participate; however, individuals who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Newark NJ Brain Bee are prohibited from competing in this brain bee again. Please click on the Registration Link to register. Registered students will receive an e-mail confirmation and further information by email prior to the competition date (directions, room location, etc.). We are no longer accepting applications.
Prizes:
Cash prizes for the Newark NJ Brain Bee will be provided for first through third places:
First place: $300 | Second place: $200 | Third place: $100.
In addition, reasonable travel expenses (lodging, food, and transportation) will be reimbursed under University policy, to the first-place winner to attend the National Brain Bee competition in March (competitor + parent/guardian). Also, the winner of the Regional competition will be eligible for a summer internship in the laboratory of a neuroscientist.
The US National Champion will receive $1,500, a paid summer internship with an esteemed neuroscientist, and a trip for two to the International Brain Bee Championship. The second-place finisher will receive $1,000, and the third-place finisher will receive $500.
Currently, the winner of the International Brain Bee Championship will be awarded $3,000, a summer research fellowship with an acclaimed neuroscientist, a traveling trophy for display at his or her school, and an all-expenses paid trip to the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting. The second-place finisher will receive $2,000, and the third-place finisher will receive $1,000. More information on the Central New Jersey Regional Brain Bee Competition sponsored by RWJMS.
Newark NJ Brain Bee Competition Sample Questions
Rules:
Students may enter only one regional brain bee competition; however, individuals who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Newark NJ Brain Bee are prohibited from competing in this brain bee again. A panel of neuroscientists will serve as judges and score-keepers, and their decisions will be final. The competition will have two phases.
Round 1: Contestants will be provided with a 40-50 question Qualtrix Exam that they will take using their own computer or smart device. They will have 30 minutes to complete this exam. All questions will be multiple choice questions where there is one best answer. All of the answers to these questions can be found in the 2018 edition of the “Brain Facts,” book available for download through the Brain Bee competition website at the Society of Neuroscience website.
The top 12 students will proceed to Round 2.
Round 2: Jeopardy-style oral answer test for second-cut finalists.
- Finalists will be chosen from the top performers in Round 1
- All finalists will be given the same question and will write their answers on a white board (“jeopardy-style”)
- Finalists will have 30 seconds to answer each question
- The round will continue until the top three finishers are determined.
- The student with the most correct answers will be declared the winner of the 2024 Newark NJ Brain Bee. Second and 3rd place winners also will be announced.
Please note: For Round 2, some questions may include additional material on CNS anatomy, histology, and clinical neurology from diverse sources.