Do you ever wonder

...what makes you who you are?
...how you can improve your memory?
...why we need sleep?
...what determines intelligence?
...how your brain is different from a computer?
...how your brain creates emotions?
...how eyes see and ears hear?
...why pain exists?
...how male and female brains differ?
...how scientists can see and hear changes in the brain?

Then consider participating in the International Brain Bee (IBB). Students that join our competition compete with teenagers from all over the world, win prize money, and visit some of the best brain research facilities in the world.

If you have read this far, you must think you've got what it takes to be the next International Brain Bee World Champion! Each year, thousands of students compete worldwide to find out who has the "best brain." The first step in the IBBWC competition is to contact your Local Chapter Brain Bee Coordinator and enter your local competition. (A list of local coordinators can be found here.)  Local Chapter Bees can be held at any time throughout the year, but are most often held during the fall and winter of each year. The winners of all Local Chapter Brain Bees will be invited to their respective Regional Brain Bee, and the winner of each Regional Bee will be invited to the International Brain Bee World Championship.

The Brain Bee is a program designed especially to stimulate students (ages 13 to 19) to learn about neuroscience. No student is allowed to participate in more than one Local Chapter Brain Bee each school year, and students are only allowed to compete in the International Brain Bee World Championship once.

Students can prepare for any Local Chapter Brain Bee by studying the book Brain Facts. This publication is available as a free download, as well as an audio version. (For a hardcopy of the document, please contact the SFN.)  Winners can prepare for Regional and World Championships by also studying Neuroscience: The Science of the Brain. This book is translated into twenty languages. Each Local, Regional and World Brain Bee is unique, and you should contact your specific coordinator for more information on procedures and rules in your area. You may also view a list of the Local and Regional Coordinators, as well as links to some of the IBB websites. 

For more information on how to prepare for the regional and international levels of competition, please visit our frequently asked questions page as well as our study materials page.