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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Maine high school students compete for neuroscience fame at the Southern Maine Regional Brain Bee at UNE

Maine high school students are buzzing about the first annual Southern Maine Regional Brain Bee, happening on December 12, 2014 on UNE's Biddeford Campus. Activities begin at 9 a.m., and the Brain Bee itself starts at 1 p.m.

This quiz-bowl-style event allows students to show off their neuroscience prowess by competing against each other to answer questions about the brain and nervous system. In addition to the competition itself, other activities for the day include viewing human brain tissue, sheep brain dissections, microscope work and a campus tour.

To officially qualify as a regional event, students from at least three different high schools must be represented.  UNE expects about 20 students from Kennebunk High School, Biddeford High School and Thornton Academy to attend. Christy Lajoie, chair of the science department at Thornton Academy commended the Brain Bee for the opportunities it brings to students: “Thornton Academy does not have a neuroscience course, so the advent of the Brain Bee at UNE has prompted interested our students to study independently. Our eight participants look forward to the valuable opportunity to explore human brains, dissect sheep brains, visit UNE science labs and meet UNE neuroscientists, in addition to competing.”

The Southern Maine Brain Bee will be held simultaneously and in collaboration with the Northern Maine Brain Bee at the University of Maine in Presque Isle, and the Western Maine Brain Bee at the University of Maine in Machias. Video links will be set up between the three Maine locations. The winner of the event will be eligible to participate in the national competition in March 2015, leading up to the International Brain Bee Championship held in Washington, D.C.

The purpose of the Brain Bee is to motivate high school students to pursue careers in neuroscience, helping to treat and find cures for neurological and psychological disorders. Michael Burman, faculty coordinator of UNE’s Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences K-12 Outreach Program, stated, “Our goal is to help support STEM education in our neighboring school districts. I think you can really see effectiveness of the program in the enthusiasm these students are showing for the Brain Bee. The amount of time outside the classroom that they’ve put into preparation is incredible.”

For more information about this event, please visit the Event Page, or the International Brain Bee website.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.