International Brain Bee

This three-year grant continued support for the International Brain Bee (IBB) organization. The mission of the IBB is to motivate students to learn about the brain and inspire them to pursue neuroscience careers. The IBB promotes student engagement with neuroscience through a three-tiered competition that culminates in a World Championship.

Students start by participating in a Local Brain Bee, the winners of which compete in their country’s National Brain Bee. National Brain Bees send one representative to compete in the World Championship, which is held annually in conjunction with major scientific conferences.

The World Championship brings teenagers from around the world together for an exciting competition and educational social experience. The social program includes a cultural video exchange, plenary sessions, a career panel, an interactive neuroscience demonstration, and team-building activities. Each year, the IBB reaches more than 25,000 students.

The IBB was founded in the US in 1998 and has grown to include over 175 local Brain Bee competitions in nearly 50 countries. The IBB was incorporated as a nonprofit educational organization in 2018 and is governed by six international neuroscience and educational organizations.

This grant supported the Dana Education objective to engage K-12 students in learning about neuroscience and its relevance to society through structured education opportunities (formal and non-formal) that capture their interest and inspire continued study.