Singapore Brain Bee Challenge 2015
Published: 01 Jun 2015
The International Brain Bee (IBB) challenge is a non-profit neuroscience competition designed to teach school students (age group of 14-19 years) about the brain, capture their imaginations, and to inspire them to pursue careers in biomedical research. Currently there are 150 Brain Bee coordinators worldwide and the Singapore Neuroscience Association (SNA) is privileged to be the Official Coordinator of IBB in Singapore. Assoc Prof S T Dheen (Department of Anatomy, NUS Medicine), the President of SNA, is the Regional Coordinator for Singapore and Ms Radhika Patnala (NUS Medicine Graduate Student) was appointed as the national coordinator for the year 2015.
SNA has organised the Singapore Brain Bee Challenge 2015 competition successfully. This competition is a historical and important event as it provides a unique platform for young Singapore students to showcase their talent and interest in neuroscience. The response from students of prominent schools in Singapore was overwhelming. About 140 students from 9 schools participated in the competition.
SNA had organised a series of events over the months of May and June 2015 as part of the Singapore National Brain Bee Challenge. Firstly, an orientation session was conducted to introduce the young students to the brain and neuroscience. Assoc Prof Ng Yee Kong (Department of Anatomy, NUS Medicine), Dr. Sajikumar Sreedharan (Department of Physiology, NUS Medicine), Dr Parakalan Rangarajan (Department of Anatomy, NUS Medicine) and Dr Gurugirijha Rathnasamy (Department of Anatomy, NUS Medicine) delivered lectures on the brain and its functions to the young students from prominent schools in Singapore. The participating schools and junior colleges included Raffles Institution, National Junior College, Victoria Junior College, Anglo-Chinese School (independent), CHIJ St Nicholas Girls School, Dunman High School, River Valley High School, Nanyang Girls High School and Fuhua Secondary School. The written examination was conducted on the 2nd of June, 2015. With over 140 examinees, a stringent protocol was followed to narrow down the top 9 finalists. The finalists had an oral exam conducted on 4 June 2015 by eminent neuroscientists in Singapore, namely, Prof Ling Eng-Ang, Assoc Prof ST Dheen, Assoc Prof Samuel Tay and Assoc Prof Gavin Dawe.
The National Brain Bee Champion was announced to be Ms Lim Xuan Li, Michelle from Raffles Institution, in an Award Ceremony conducted on 4 June 2015. The champion received her award from the Guest of Honour, Professor Hooi Shing Chuan, Vice-Dean (Education), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. The champion was also awarded a cash prize of $500 and a travel award of up to $2,000 to attend the International Brain Bee Challenge to be held in Cairns, Australia between 20 to 26 August. The 1st and 2nd runner up of the Singapore Brain Bee Challenge was awarded to Rozalin Mohanty from Victoria Junior College and Mr Chew Khai Syuen from Raffles Institution respectively. During the Award Ceremony, the invited guest speaker, Professor Soong Tak Wah (Head, Department of Physiology, NUS Medicine) delivered a talk titled “My Brain needs Exercise!”. This event was hosted and sponsored by the Singapore Neuroscience Association and the Department of Anatomy, NUS Medicine.
