Macleans College student named North Island Brain Bee champion
Posted on July 10, 2024
Earlier this year, a large group of Year 11 Macleans College students took the opportunity to learn more about the brain and neurological disorders.
The Macleans College students undertook independent study and proceeded to sit the round one online test, alongside 355 other students from 45 North Island schools. Of this group, 16 students were selected to continue to round two. From the round two test, Janie Kim and Jerry Qiu (both of Kupe House) finished inside the North Island top 10 and qualified for the final.
In late June, all 16 round two entrants were invited to the University of Auckland School of Medicine. In addition to competing in the live final, the students spent the day immersed in the world of neuroscience; visiting laboratories and meeting neuroscientists at the Centre for Brain Research. Once again, Macleans College had the largest group of student participants for the visit.
The competition final for the top 10 students was very closely fought and exciting to watch. Jerry finished fourth equal, while Janie progressed into the last round for the top three. At the end of the final 15 questions, the top two competitors were equal. After several tie breakers, Janie was announced the winner of the North Island competition. Janie now has the opportunity to travel to Perth later in the year to compete for the Australasian Brain Bee award against both the South Island winner and all of the Australian state winners.
Both Janie and Jerry have been invited to participate in an internship sponsored by the Neurological Foundation at the Centre for Brain Research during the September/October school holidays. They will get the chance to visit the Human Brain Bank, see research in action and follow people from different research groups.
