The UP János Szentágothai Research Centre hosted the first Hungarian closing round of the neuroscience-focused international Brain Bee for secondary school students on May 28. The student in the first place can show their skills in the finals of the now 24 years-old competition in July. The patron of the first Hungarian Brain Bee was dr. Zsuzsanna Helyes, director of the UP Szentágothai Research Centre. The chair position of the organiser committee was filled by dr. Ágnes Kemény (UP Centre for Neuroscience).
As it stands on the website of the event, the first international Brain Bee was started by dr. Norbert Myslinski in 1998. It has inspired thousands of students to build their careers in neuroscience in the past two decades. Over 25 thousand students from over 50 countries participate every year, and the very best can compete in the final, international round.
The first Hungarian Brain Bee had 37 participants. The written round was in April, and the second, oral round was at the end of May – says the interview on UnivPécs.com with dr. Zsuzsanna Helyes and dr. Ágnes Kemény. They explained that they had to build the competition from nothing, and they had to recruit helpers with the necessary technical knowledge. However, the number of competitors was a pleasant surprise, there were participants from every area of the country. The competition probably attracted those students who are planning on entering a career in biology or physiology.
After the second round on May 28, to which 12 participants out of the original 37 qualified, the final results of the local round were announced. The first place was given to Lawson Richard Hanh, student of the Fazekas Mihály Primary and Secondary Grammar School of Budapest, who will represent Hungary in the international competition hosted in Paris on July 9-12. The international competition will have three awardees, who will receive a notable monetary prize aside from the professional acclaim.
“I have always been interested in topics connected to biochemistry and molecular biology, and what caught my attention to most was neurology. I was looking for competitions on it in Hungary, but I could not find any. And then a professor who is sort of having me as an apprentice brought this competition to my attention, because they thought it would be a good opportunity for me. And it really was” – explained Lawson Richard Hanh to the reporter of UnivPécs.com after the announcement of the results.
The second place of the first Hungarian Brain Bee went to János Dániel Wodala (Radnóti Miklós Grammar School of Szeged), and the third place was awarded to Boldizsár Bősze (Radnóti Miklós Grammar School of Szeged).
“The fact that someone can have this level of knowledge as a teenager is fantastic, and it means that there will be a new generation of experts in neuroscience research and clinical professionals of the nervous system”
– expanded dr. Zsuzsanna Helyes to the reporter of UnivPécs.com.
“There are several diseases of the nervous system from chronic pain to neurodegenerative musculoskeletal diseases or illnesses affecting cognitive skills; these are fields of therapy that are absolutely not depleted, and there is much more research to do to boost patient treatments. This has a basis and history at the University of Pécs as well, and it holds a plethora of opportunities”
– added the professor, emphasizing that the gates of knowledge are open to the youth who are interested in neuroscience.
“There are strong research groups in infrastructure, research profiles and funding options in Hungary that are worth joining. The main advantage we have in Pécs compared to other research groups is that we are more able to conduct clinical-oriented neuroscience research. Aside from the Research Centre, the Medical School, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy are also cooperating with the clinics. We are conducting translational neuroscience research; the spectrum includes everything from studying cellular level or intracellular processes to applications on patients. There is a straight road for talent, we welcome all the enthusiastic and ambitious youths!” – said the director of the UP János Szentágothai Research Centre.
Contributors to the organisation of the Hungarian round of Brain Bee:
- University of Pécs János Szentágothai Research Centre, Centre for Neuroscience
- University of Debrecen (as a member of Neurotech EU), Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology
- University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology
- University of Pécs Medical School, Department of Anatomy
- University of Pécs Medical School, Department of Neurology
- University of Pécs , Endre Grastyán Translational Research Centre
- Hungarian Neuroscience Society
The next Hungaria round of Brain Bee will take place in 2023.
Photo:
Dávid Verébi