The Vermont Brain Bee (VBB) is a competition and a day of exploration for high school students with interests in neuroscience and the inner workings of the brain. These students can demonstrate their knowledge at the annual Vermont Brain Bee held at the University of Vermont each February. 

We have held 16 Annual Vermont Brain Bees, going from 11 students from 3 schools participating in 2010, to 48 students from 8 schools.  

Over the past sixteen years, more than 500 students have participated in the Vermont Brain Bee. This event has inspired many to pursue neuroscience as a lifetime career!

There are now more than 60 competitors at the National level – proof that high school students’ interest in neuroscience has grown across the country! We’d love to reach more students in more rural parts of the state so that they, too, can participate in this exceptional and exciting, educational program that has an impact on each of their futures in science. Best of all, this event is free!

Students who come in first place in the Vermont Brain Bee have the opportunity to represent Vermont in The USA National Brain Bee Competition every spring. Lasy year, Momin Waqar, a sophomore from South Burlington High School traveled to Rutgers University, Brunswick, New Jersey and placed second. This was the highest placing for a student from Vermont ever! This event consists of various tests, keynote speeches, discussions, and hands-on activities with the goal of inspiring students to learn about the brain and pursue neuroscience-related fields to help heal brain disorders.