INTERNATIONAL BRAIN BEE
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Mission Statement
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.
About This Cause
The International Brain Bee (IBB) is a competition for teenagers with the primary goal to motivate students to learn about the brain and to inspire them to pursue careers in neuroscience. It was founded in the US in 1998 and has grown to over 175 local Brain Bee competitions in almost 50 countries around the world. The culmination of this program is the World Championship held every year in conjunction with a major neuroscience conference. The IBB was incorporated in 2018 as non-profit educational organization with the support of five international neuroscience and educational organizations that also formed the IBB's governing body: the American Psychological Association (APA), the Dana Foundation, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). The Alzheimer's Association joined as a new Governing Partner in 2021. The IBB Experience: The IBB is an important educational and outreach activity that is much more than an annual competition, with a reach that extends far beyond its competitors. It creates general awareness of brain research and educates both students and teachers on the latest scientific findings in neuroscience and the importance of research and discovery. The Brain Bee experience, particularly at the international level is about meeting students from different cultures and creating a spirit of openness and diversity. The IBB has reached into remote communities, where it provides educational opportunities for students from underprivileged areas. Most importantly, the IBB instills a lasting passion for neuroscience and influences educational and professional choices. Participants are introduced to different cultures and form meaningful and lasting friendships. New IBB Strategy: In 2023, the Board approved a three-year pilot strategy for the IBB, including two annual events - a virtual World Championship and a subsequent new in-person Champions event (IBB NextGen). The strategy is in line with the IBB’s mission and aligns with the principles and priorities of its Governing Partners. The virtual World Championship ensures inclusiveness, equity, and diversity, allowing all National Champions to participate. The IBB NextGen event will go beyond the current prize structure and award the top participants in the World Championship with a unique and impactful experience. The IBB will cover all expenses for the participants related to the NextGen event and assist with visa and travel arrangements. The IBB World Championship: The annual IBB World Championship brings together teenage students from around the world for an exciting competition and educational social program. Each participant has previously won the highest level of Brain Bee competition in their country to qualify for the World Championship. Since the first IBB World Championship in Canada in 2008, the event has been held in multiple countries with various host neuroscience conferences, including South Africa (International Congress of Psychology), Australia (International Society for Neurochemistry-Australasian Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting), Austria (World Congress of Neurology), Denmark and Germany (FENS Forum of Neuroscience), and Italy and South Korea (IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience). The American Psychological Association (APA) has hosted four IBB World Championships at its annual convention in Canada and the US. In 2021, the IBB hosted its first virtual competition aligned with Neuroscience 2021, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. The 2022 and 2023 IBB World Championships were also held virtually: 2022 in conjunction with the FENS Forum 2022 in Paris, France, and in collaboration with the Paris Brain Institute; and 2023 in conjunction with the APA Annual Convention in Washington, DC. Starting in 2024, the World Championship will take place virtually immediately prior to the SfN meeting, with a hybrid award ceremony to be held at the Brain Awareness Campaign Event (BACE). This will allow for sufficient time for visa and travel arrangements and to develop the personalized program for the subsequent IBB NextGen event. IBB NextGen: The NextGen event will reward the champions with a unique and impactful in-person cultural and educational experience without the pressures of the competition. To align with the IBB’s objective of encouraging students to pursue a career in neuroscience or medicine, the event program will focus on the participants future academic pursuits and career development. It will allow the IBB to foster and guide their interests and their commitment to neuroscience. The participants will be involved in the planning for the event to schedule one-on-one mentoring sessions. Although components of the program will be tailored to the students’ specific interests, a primary goal is to introduce them to different fields and disciplines. The NextGen event will provide participants with diverse perspectives, the importance of collaboration, outreach, and public engagements. The program will include group sessions and one-on-one discussions with various neuroscience and other professionals. Ways to Get Involved and Support the IBB: The growth and success of the entire Brain Bee program – from local chapters to the annual IBB World Championship – relies upon a network of highly committed volunteers around the world. Scientists, educators, or advocates of science communication are welcome to get involved. Volunteers can get engaged in existing Brain Bees or start a new Brain Bee competition. The IBB website shows the list of countries that currently host Brain Bee competitions. Other volunteer opportunities with the IBB range from being judges for competitions, to being involved in IBB committees and working groups for the creation of academic content, fundraising, outreach and communications.