If you are currently thinking about pursuing a career in Neuroscience, you should consider participating in a neuroscience competition!

A competition can be a great way to continue learning about neuroscience, while also allowing you to show to college the dedication you have to the field.

In this blog, we’ll cover the top neuroscience competitions for high school students!

Neuroscience Competitions for High School Students

1. American Academy of Neurology

- Neuroscience Research Prize Description: This award is designed to encourage high school students to explore the world of the brain and nervous system through research, identify and reward those students whose scientific skill and talent indicate potential for scientific contributions in the field of neuroscience, and recognize the efforts of science teachers who have demonstrated support for students interested in neuroscience.

Format: Written Research report Application Deadline: November 2, 2023, Opens again in late June 2024 Prizes: 3 winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in secondary school (grades 9-12) in the United States, regardless of age.

Applications must represent original research as well as the original written work of the applicant.

Projects do not need to occur in formal/traditional lab settings.

Each project should be the work of an individual student; group projects are not eligible (teachers are encouraged to provide guidance as needed, but must allow each student to demonstrate his/her own creativity) Family members of the judges, the AAN Science Committee, or AAN staff are not eligible to apply Application Requirements: Completed application form Maximum 300-word abstract Research report Bibliography An e-signature from your parent/guardian, teacher, and mentor are required and will be needed to complete your application.

Please make sure they are aware so the application can be processed on time.

This will be done through this application.

2. International Brain Bee Description: The International Brain Bee was founded in 1998 by Dr.

Norbert Myslinski with a mission to build better brains to fight brain disorders.

The International Brain Bee has a 3 step competition, where students sign for their local bee, then advance to national, then to international in the final round.

Every year, National Brain Bees sends one representative to compete at the IBB World Championship, where over 40 countries are represented.

Format: Oral and Written Exams Application Deadline: The World Championship will be in Oct 2024 Individual or Team Competition?: Individual

3. Neuroethics Essay Contest Description: The Neuroethics Essay Contest encourages students and trainees to examine the ethical concerns in research, law, and policy related to the mind and brain.

By seeking essays that bring original perspectives to neuroethics discourse, the contest raises awareness of the neuroethics discipline among the next generation.

There are also several different contest categories you can participate in, including the neuroethics essay, the essay for a general audience (a piece that might be found in a magazine or news outlet), the academic essay (suitable for publication in an academic journal), and the video essay.

In choosing what category to participate in, it just depends on what type of writing you prefer and what audience you want to write for.

Format: Essay Prizes: Prizes also include a 1-year INS student membership ($15-30 value), a registration waiver to the next INS Annual Meeting ($150-200 value), and a travel stipend to attend the next INS Annual Meeting in person ($500-1,500 value).

Application Deadline: Passed for this year Individual or team competition?: Individual

4. Brain Awareness Video Contest Description: The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) runs the annual Brain Awareness Video Contest (BAVC) to showcase educational and entertaining neuroscience concepts and activities.

Video submissions must focus on a neuroscience concept and be no longer than 5 minutes.

You can watch SfN’s video on how to create and submit a video to the contest, but in general, it’s important that the video is entertaining, unique, and catches the viewer’s eye.

Format: Video Prizes: First place: $4,000 plus complimentary registration for one

* person to attend Neuroscience 2023 in Washington, D.

C.

Second place: $50

0. Third place: $25

0. People’s Choice: $50

0. Application Deadline: July 2024

5. Neuroscience For Kids Poetry Contest Description: This competition is divided into 5 different age groups, with different poem requirements for each age group.

For example, for Grades 9-12, your poem must be in the form of a limerick.

All poems must have a neuroscience theme such as brain anatomy (a part of the brain), brain function (memory, language, emotions, movement, the senses, etc. ), drug abuse, or brain health (helmets, brain disorders, etc. ) Format: Poem Application Deadline: February 1, 2024 Individual or team competition?: Individual Contest Rules: Only one entry per person.

Please type or print your poem so it be read.

Use the official entry form (copies of the form are acceptable) to write a poem about the nervous system in the style for your age group.

All poems, limericks and haiku must have at least THREE lines and CANNOT be longer than TEN lines.

Material that is shorter than three lines or longer than ten lines will not be read.

All material must have a neuroscience theme such as brain anatomy (a part of the brain), brain function (memory, language, emotions, movement, the senses, etc. ), drug abuse or brain health (helmets, brain disorders, etc. ).

Be creative!

Use your brain!

Want More Prestigious STEM Competitions?

Use my list of 50+ STEM Prestigious STEM Competitions in my STEM Student Guide.

It is one of the most helpful resources out there!.