The Competition

Competition Format

The Brain Bee competition tests students on a broad range of neuroscience topics. The Belgian competition follows the format established by the International Brain Bee.

Written Test

Students answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions covering:

• Neuroanatomy — the structure of the brain and nervous system
• Neural pathways — how signals travel through the nervous system
• Neurological and psychiatric disorders — including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, and more
• Neuroscience research — current developments and discoveries in the field
• Neuropharmacology — how drugs affect the nervous system

Oral Quiz

Top-scoring students from the written test advance to the oral quiz, a live round where contestants are asked questions in front of an audience and a panel of judges. This round tests both knowledge and quick thinking.

Who Can Participate?

The Brain Bee is open to high school students (secondary school, ages 14–19). Students must be enrolled in a Belgian secondary school and must not have previously won the national competition.

How to Register

Registration for the Belgian Brain Bee Championship opens annually. Check the news section for announcements about upcoming competitions and registration deadlines.

Study Resources

To prepare for the Brain Bee, we recommend:

• “Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain” by Bear, Connors, and Paradiso
• The official International Brain Bee study guide
• Resources from the Society for Neuroscience
• Online neuroscience courses from platforms such as Coursera and Khan Academy

Past Winners

Belgium has a proud tradition of participating in the International Brain Bee. Our national champions have represented Belgium with distinction at the World Championship.

Past winners and results will be listed here as the competition history grows.

Timeline

Exact dates vary by year. Check the news section for current-year announcements.