20 24 USA BRAINBEE CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 19-21, 2024
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
WELCOME!
54 BRILLIANT MINDS
FROM 32 U.S. STATES
GATHER FOR 2 DAYS OF NEUROSCIENCE
WELCOME TO THE 2024 USA BRAIN BEE CHAMPIONSHIP!
ABOUT THE BRAIN BEE
The International Brain Bee was founded 25 years ago in 1998 by Dr. Norbert Myslinski with a mission to build better brains to fight brain disorders. Since its inception, this neuroscience competition has inspired thousands of teens to learn about the brain and pursue careers in neuroscience-related fields. Over 25,000 teens participate in Brain Bee competitions each year around the world.
The winner of each local USA chapter is invited to participate in the annual USA National Brain Bee Championship.
The top three winners of the national championship receive monetary awards. The first place winner is invited to advance to represent the USA in the annual World Championship, held during the summer.
The USA Brain Bee is now codirected by Dr Norbert Myslinski and Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa. The Brain Bee is possible thanks to the hundreds of individuals around the world who volunteer their time to host local competitions.
DR. NORBERT MYSLINSKI
Brain Bee Founder
USA Brain Bee Co-Director Neuroscience Professor
University of Maryland
DR.MANUELLA OLIVEIRA YASSA
USA Brain Bee Co-Director Director of Outreach and Education
University of California, Irvine
CODE OF CONDUCT AND RULES
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine is committed to providing an atmosphere that encourages free expression of ideas in a safe, positive, and harassment-free environment that is welcoming to all participants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender transition status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services. No bullying, discrimination, harassment or retaliation of any sort will be permitted at the event.
RULES
No recording (audio, visual, or written) of the competition questions or answers is allowed
A competitor is allowed to compete in the USA National Brain Bee competition only once in a lifetime
The competitor must be between the ages of 13 and 19
The competitor must not have knowledge of the confidential questions and answers before the competition
Competitors are expected to generate answers without the help of any individuals or materials
The decisions of the judges are final
RESPECT HONESTY INTEGRITY
Memories
THOUGHTS FROM THE BRAIN BEE FOUNDER
Tears come to my eyes when I remember; not tears of sadness, but tears of joy; memories of all the good times, all people I loved, all the adventures, and all the blessings bestowed on me. But more relevant now are my memories of The United States Brain Bee. I remember the venues of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California. The working memory of my prefrontal cortex sees the bright faces of young men and women through the years working together, developing relationships, creating their careers Not only do I relive the events, but my amygdala enables me to recreate the feelings and emotions related to those events. Now in Florida, you have a wonderful opportunity to create your own memories. Grab this recordbreaking adventure at the University of Central Florida. Capture the knowledge, the emotions, the inspiration, the friendships Hang on to them for the rest of your life, whatever that life may be. Maybe you will devote your life to neuroscience in one of its many forms. Maybe you will be instrumental in finding a cure for a brain disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease which attacks one of the pillars of our humanity, our memory If you think about it, all life is memory, except for the immediate now. My mom fell victim of that most dreaded form of dementia that attacks the hippocampus, and was not able to create new memories. She lived to be 101 years old, laughing and smiling till the day she died. I hope you live a long life, remembering the time you spent here at the 2024 USA National Brain Bee Championship, along with all the emotions. Endeavor to maintain your new friendships, and your relationship with the Brain Bee by helping your local chapter or even starting one of your own. Grow to be an inspiration to the next generation of young men and women around the world
Sto Lat, Dr, Norbert Myslinski
WELCOME TO THE 2024 USA BRAIN BEE
I am delighted to welcome you to the 2024 USA National Brain Bee Championship, hosted at the University of Central Florida. It is a pleasure to have you join us for this extraordinary event Your journey to this competition is a testament to your dedication, hard work, and passion for neuroscience. We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each one of you for reaching this remarkable stage! The USA Brain Bee is not just a competition, but also a celebration of knowledge.
This year, 53 of you from across 32 US states will come together for the National Championship. As you compete and showcase your knowledge, remember that you are not only participating in a prestigious competition but also embarking on a path of personal and academic growth The challenges you face and the connections you make here will shape your future in ways you may not yet imagine.
The Brain Bee is an opportunity to celebrate your knowledge, but it is also a chance to exchange ideas, learn from your peers, and explore the wonders of the human brain. Embrace the experience with an open mind and a spirit of curiosity, as you never know what new discoveries await you.
No matter the outcome, you are already winners for making it this far So, take pride in your achievements and enjoy every moment of this journey. We wish you the best of luck in the competition and beyond!
Thank you for joining us in Orlando, FL. I look forward to getting to know each of you over the coming days
Sincerely,
Akhila Damarla 2024 Championship Organizer
2:00 PM
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
(OPTIONAL)
Student Arrival
Colleges of Sciences Building (CSB 101)
Introductory Social 2:15 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
College Readiness Workshop with the Honors College
Neuroethics Debate
Community Service Project
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
9:00 AM
10:15 AM
11:15 AM
12:15 PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Introduction to Competition & Keynote Lecture from Dr. Sugaya
UCF Psychology Building
Written Test
Lunch Break
Brain Anatomy, Histology, and MRI Test & Sheep Brain Dissection
2:45 PM
3:15 PM
Break
Patient Diagnosis Test
Charge On Chamber
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024
9:00 AM Championship Final Day Welcome & Keynote Lecture from Dr. King
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
UCF Psychology Building Faculty Panel
Brunch Break
12:00 AM Break
Finals Round Competition
UCF Psychology Building
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
Award Ceremony
UCF Psychology Building
LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION
HOTEL
Celeste Hotel
4105 North Alafaya Trail Orlando, FL (407) 207-4700
EVENT VENUE
University of Central Florida Psychology Building
4111 Pictor Ln Orlando, FL 32816
TRANSPORTATION
The Celeste Hotel is on the UCF Campus and is a 15 minute walk from the site of the competition.
KEYNOTE
LECTURES
GOOD AND BAD STEM CELLS IN THE BRAIN
DR.KIMINOBUSUGAYA
ProfessorofMedicineandNeuroscienceDivision Head,BurnettSchoolofBiomedicalSciences Chair,MultidisciplinaryNeuroscienceAlliance Chair,InstitutionalReviewBoard CollegeofMedicine,UniversityofCentralFlorida
Saturday,April20,9:00AM
WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SOCIETY VILLAIN OR HERO
DR.STEPHENJ.KING
AssociateProfessor,BurnettSchoolofBiomedical Sciences CollegeofMedicine,UniversityofCentralFlorida Chair,UCFFacultySenate Member,UCFBoardofTrustees
Sunday,April21,9:00AM
2024 PARTICIPANTS
REBECCA AHN
Central Massachusetts Brain Bee
Massachusetts
ANITEJ AKELLA
Central Florida Brain Bee
Florida
ELLA ALEXANDER
UofSC School of Medicine South Carolina Brain Bee
South Carolina
SOPHIE BALDWIN
Brown Brain Bee
Rhode Island
ABHIDI BRAHNMATH
Washington State Brain Bee
Washington State
ROWAN BYASSEE
Utah Brain Bee
Utah
NANCY CHANDRA
Albany Brain Bee New York
DEVARSHI DALAL
Brain Bee at Michigan State University
Michigan
ARJUN DESHPANDE
Princeton Brain Bee
New Jersey
ERIC DU
Kansas City Brain Bee
Kansas
NICOLAS ECHLOV
Westchester Brain Bee
New York
MAGGIE EVANS
Indianapolis Brain Bee
Indiana
CARMEN FELIX
Jacksonville Brain Bee
Florida
ARJUN GANESH
New Mexico Brain Bee
New Mexico
ABHINAV GUTHA
Dallas Fort Worth Brain Bee
Texas
MILLER HABIB
Central Pennsylvania Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
2024 PARTICIPANTS
2024 PARTICIPANTS
LILITH HOLMES
University of Richmond Brain Bee
Virginia
MELODY HONG
Long Island Brain Bee
New York
SOPHIA EOWYN HSU
James Madison University
Virginia
ANVI JAMPANI
University of Michigan Brain Bee
Michigan
ZAIXIN JIANG
Baltimore County Brain Bee
Maryland
MARIA JIMENEZ RODRIGUEZ
Iowa Brain Bee
Iowa HAVISHA KALPATTHI
Pittsburg Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
SHLOKA KARI
University of Pennsylvania Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
NYLA KHOO
Bay Area Brain Bee
California
NOAH KIRUBAKEREN
Minnesota Brain Bee
Minnesota
HENGZHOU (FERRIS) LI
Irvine Brain Bee
California
SUNNY MA
Boston University Brain Bee
Massachussetts
ANNABELLA MACK
Rochester Brain Bee
New York
FLORA MEI
Syracuse Brain Bee
New York
VERONICA MOTAWI
Chicago Brain Bee
Illinois
TEJAS VARMA PAKALAPATI
Oregon Brain Bee
Oregon
2024 PARTICIPANTS
ERIC PAN
Houston Brain Bee
Texas
DIYA PATEL
Los Angeles County Brain Bee
California
KATHERINE PEREZ
Atlanta Regional Brain Bee
Georgia
FELICITY PHAN
Nevada Brain Bee
Nevada
ARIANNA RAHMATHULLA
North Florida Brain Bee
Florida
SYDNEY REITER
Southern Maryland Brain Bee
Maryland
DAVUD SKENDERI
Miami Dade Brain Bee
Florida
MAYA SNELLER
Central Michigan Brain Bee
Michigan
2024 PARTICIPANTS
2024 PARTICIPANTS
CHARLES SOLAZZO
Rutgers Central New Jersey Brain Bee
New Jersey
RISHI SURESH
Arizona Brain Bee
Arizona
RACHEL THOMAS
Northeastern Pennsylvania Brain Bee
Georgia DIEP TRAN
St. Louis Brain Bee
Missouri
ALAINA TYLER Vermont Brain Bee
Vermont
LEYLA URMANOVA
Triangle Brain Bee
North Carolina
MANASA VADAPALLI
Alabama Brain Bee
Alabama
HARINI VENKATESH
Upper Valley Brain Bee
New Hampshire
2024 PARTICIPANTS
CLAIRE WANG
San Diego Brain Bee
California
CLARA WELCH
Creighton University
Brain Bee
Nebraska
CALEB WRAITH
Alaska Regional Brain Bee
Georgia
HARSHIL YERRABELLI
Trinity College Brain Bee
Connecticut
SHAHERYAR ZEB
Newark Brain Bee
New Jersey
EMILY ZHANG
Baltimore City Brain Bee
Maryland
ABOUT THE HOST INSTITUTION
The University of Central Florida (UCF) stands as a testament to visionary leadership and a commitment to excellence in education Established in 1963, UCF was initially known as Florida Technological University (FTU), with a primary focus on providing skilled professionals to support the flourishing space program at Cape Canaveral
In 1978, FTU underwent a transformation, becoming the University of Central Florida This change reflected the university's expanded mission to encompass a broader range of academic disciplines while still emphasizing technology and innovation
UCF's journey into the realm of neuroscience mirrors its dedication to pioneering fields of study The neuroscience program at UCF has grown steadily over the years, driven by a passion for understanding the complexities of the brain and nervous system UCF's Neuroscience Division is a hub for cutting-edge research and collaboration Its mission is to discover the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern the nervous system's development and function This knowledge is applied to understand and treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, ALS, peripheral neuropathies, and Neurofibromatosis
The division conducts pioneering research on topics including Schwann cell biology, non-myelinating glia, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial biogenesis Faculty collaborate with UCF researchers in various fields and external partners like the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Nemours Children's Hospital to translate this knowledge into new therapies for neurological conditions
As UCF celebrates its rich history and looks towards the future, its commitment to excellence in education and groundbreaking research remains unwavering The university's continued investment in neuroscience underscores its dedication to advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovation and discovery
Welcome to the University of Central Florida!
2024 ORGANIZING TEAM
MANUELLA OLIVEIRA YASSA, PHD
Co-Director
USA Brain Bee
AKHILA DAMARLA
BS Student, University of Central Florida
Brain Bee Organizer
PELIN ÖZOĞLU
BS Student, University of Central Florida
Brain Bee Committee
MATHEW ABRAHAM
BS Student, University of Texas At Austin
Brain Bee Committee
NORBERT MYSLINSKI, PHD
Co-Director and Founder
USA Brain Bee
SRITHANVI PASUNURI
BS Student, University of Central Florida
Brain Bee Committee
NEDA HAMOOD
MS Student, University of Central Florida
Brain Bee Committee
DANIEL LEE
BS Student, Duke University
Brain Bee Committee
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The 2024 USA Brain Bee would have not been possible without
Our Sponsors
Our Student Leaders
Thank you to all the student volunteers, spending their time raising awareness about neuroscience and promoting the learning of the subject, as well as members of the Central Florida Brain Bee Board.
Our Faculty Mentors
Ben Fry, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida
Alicia L Hawthorne, Ph D
Associate Professor of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida
Stephen J. King, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida
Amber L Southwell, Ph D
Associate Professor of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida
Kiminobu Sugaya, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine and Neuroscience Division Head, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida
Notes:
USA BRAINBEE
Congratulations to all our participants!