|
||
|
|
|
|
Press Releases | |
Mar 15, 2000
Contact:
Southampton College "Brain Bee" Winner Contends Nationally
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081Ashish Bahatt, a ninth grader from Newfield High School in Coram, parlayed his success at Southampton College's first-ever "Brain Bee" toward becoming a national contender.
Despite facing mostly juniors and seniors, Bahatt became the only New York State representative to make it to the finals of the National Brain Bee competition March 14-15 in Baltimore. He took home a fifth-place trophy.
Long Island's regional Brain Bee was held at Southampton College of Long Island University on March 4. In a heated competition, Bahatt narrowly beat finalists Shawn Wilson (Shelter Island High School), Vikas Gupta and Phillip Spinella (both from Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station). Bahatt won a $12,000 scholarship to study in Southampton College's neuroscience program and was invited to attend a neuroscience workshop on campus this summer. Students prepared for the contest with respected Southampton College neuroscientist and regional Brain Bee organizer Dr. John Neill.
The Brain Bee is a quiz-show competition about neuroscience for high school students. The best young brains in the country are quizzed about the brain and how it relates to intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, aging, sleep and brain disorders, such as addiction, Alzheimer's and stroke. The winner of each regional contest was invited to the National Brain Bee. All the questions come from one book, "Brain Facts," published by the Society for Neuroscience.
Internationally, the Brain Bee is directed by Dr. Norbert Myslinski and is part of Brain Awareness Week (March 15-22). BAW is an effort by brain scientists in 29 countries to educate the public about the importance of brain research. It is spearheaded by The DANA Alliance and the Society for Neuroscience. The National Brain Bee seeks to motivate youth to learn about the brain, capture their imagination and inspire them to pursue careers in biomedical brain research. It seeks their energy and passion to fight and win the war against mental retardation, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and other brain disorders.