This week is 'Brain Week', and as part of the festivities, the winner of the State's Brain Bee competition will be announced at 3pm today at the Menzies Research Institute.

This week is 'Brain Week', and as part of the festivities, the winner of the State's Brain Bee competition will be announced at 3pm today at the Menzies Research Institute.

Tasmanian Brain Bee organiser and Menzies' Research Fellow, Dr Rob Gasperini says that the Brain Bee is an international competition aimed at encouraging high school students at the year 10 level to think about how the brain functions and possible career options in neuroscience research.

"This Brain Bee course integrates into year 10 science teaching with aspects of chemistry, biology and physics studied in the neuroscience context," Dr Gasperini said.  

"The students come from all over the State and have completed Round One as an on-line test."

"Round Two is being held today at the new Menzies Research Institute building in Hobart, with the winner announced at 3pm."

"It will give our state finalists unique insights into what medical research is and some of the groundbreaking work neuroscience researchers here are performing," he said.

Round Two will test each of the finalists in all areas of neuroscience, from neuroanatomy to learning/memory and ageing diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.

The State winner will then go to the National final to be held in Auckland next January as part of the Australian Neuroscience Society's national congress.

Information Released by:

Fiona Horwood, Communications Manager

Phone: 6226 7751 Mobile: 0409 357 384

Email: Fiona.Horwood@menzies.utas.edu.au

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