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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Kyle Ryan of Kennebunk High School wins Southern Maine Brain Bee at UNE

Kyle Ryan, a student at Kennebunk High School, took the top spot at the second annual Southern Maine Brain Bee at UNE. Jessica Patterson of Thornton Academy took second place, with Will ONeal of Kennebunk and Phillip Huoth of Biddeford High tying for third. 

18 students from Biddeford High, Kennebunk High, and Thornton Academy competed in the regional event, demonstrating their knowledge about the brain and nervous system. In addition to the competition itself, other activities for the day included 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.  The purpose is to motivate high school students to pursue careers in neuroscience, helping to treat and find cures for neurological and psychological disorders. “This program really serves to excite students about the brain, science and medicine,” said Michael Burman, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychology and faculty coordinator of UNE’s Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences K-12 Outreach Program. “Watching students from our local towns successfully compete against the top students from across the nation is really exciting for us. These students are going to go on to do amazing things and we’re glad to have been part of their preparation.”

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. The winner of the event will be eligible to participate in the national competition in March 2016, leading up to the International Brain Bee Championship held in Sydney Australia.

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.