The inaugural Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI) Brain Bee is open to high school students in grades 9-12. Similar to a spelling bee, students in the competitition must answer a series of questions based on the book "Brain Facts" published by the Society of Neuroscience. The top three finalists will receive cash prizes... plus be eligible to compete in the National Brain Bee.

The Brain Bee competition hosted by The Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI) will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013. This is an oral competition that tests the neuroscience knowledge of high school students. Depending on the number of students competing, there may be a written component as well. Young men and women will compete to determine who is the "brainiest" on such topics as intelligence, learning and memory, emotion, sensations, movement, stress, aging, sleep, addiction, neuroanatomy, and neural disorders. Participants should study the material found in "Brain Facts" published by the Society for Neuroscience.

The winner of the MPFI competition will travel to the National Brain Bee Competition in Baltimore, Maryland. Travel expenses and lodging for the winner and one chaperone will be funded by the Mary and Robert Pew Public Education Fund. In addition, the top 3 winners will be awarded with a cash prize. All participants will receive a t-shirt.

The winner of the National Brain Competition in Baltimore will go on to compete in the International Brain Bee (IBB) competition. The IBB winner will receive $3000, an individual trophy, a traveling trophy for their high school, and a fellowship to work in the laboratory of a neuroscientist during the summer. There will also be prizes for 2nd and 3rd place winners.

For more information, contact MPFI's Head of Educational Outreach Dr. Ana Fiallos at ana.fiallos@mpfi.org.