International Brain Bee

International Brain Bee was founded by Dr. Norbert Myslinski with a mission to build better brains to fight brain disorders. Since its inception, the International Brain Bee has inspired thousands of students to study and pursue careers in neuroscience.

Interested in the competition?

Competition Overview

High school students between the ages of 13 and 19

Eligibility

Varies depending on the country

Competition Fee

November 7-12, 2025 in San Diego, California

International Competition

📌 Note: Aralia is not the organizer of this competition. For official rules, deadlines, and updates, please refer directly to the competition organizer. Aralia provides listings and information about competitions for student reference. Aralia is an online education platform offering competition preparation classes to students worldwide.

Competition Details

1. Introduction

The International Brain Bee promotes student engagement with neuroscience through a three-tiered competition: students start by signing up for a Local Brain Bee, the winners of which compete in their country’s National Brain Bee. National Brain Bees annually sends one representative to compete at the International Brain Bee world championship.

The 2025 IBB World Championship will be held virtually, in conjunction with Neuroscience 2025, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego, CA.

2. Local Brain Bee

Local Brain Bee competitions are run by grassroots chapters, usually through universities or research institutions, and formats may vary by region. Participants should check with their local chapter for specific rules and preparation details.

Study materials typically come from Brain Facts or Neuroscience: The Science of the Brain, which provide an introduction to neuroscience.

3. National Brain Bee

National Brain Bees are organized separately in each country. Participants should contact their national coordinator for details.

Participating countries can be found here.

4. International Brain Bee

Topics in the International Brain Bee are based on university and medical school neuroscience topics.

5. Championship Selection

Upon arrival at the competition, 40 National Brain Bee Champions will compete in the World Championship.

Participants will complete a written exam, neuroanatomy and neurohistology tests, and a patient diagnosis assessment, which will determine who advances to the Live Judging Session.

Neuroanatomy & Neurohistology: Identify and understand brain parts and tissues.
Written Test: Multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
Patient Diagnosis: Watch patient videos and use medical information to make a diagnosis.
Live Judging: Answer quick questions in a timed session for top scoring.

6. Awards

The IBB World Champion will receive $3,000 and a personalized plaque. The second and third-place winners will receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. The top 5 winners will receive a medal and participate in the IBB NextGen event in Barcelona, Spain, in July 2026.

IBB Neuroanatomy/Histology Awards

The award recognizes top students in the neuroanatomy/neurohistology component of the IBB World Championship. Students will receive $100 prize and a book featuring the words of Nobel Laureate Santiago Ramón Y Cajal and his contributions to neuroscience through his artistic brain imagery.

Cajal Club Neural Progenitor Award

The award recognizes the winner of the IBB Live Judging Session. The winner will receive $500 and a certificate.