Do you know anyone who suffers from dementia? A person that keeps forgetting your name? In order to tackle neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, more neuroscientists are needed. Through discovering the current and future challenges that studying our brains offers, we aim to encourage young students to take part in our regional Aberdonian Brain Bee competition and develop a long-term interest in neuroscience.

Aberdeen Brain Bee is a local branch of a global non-profit initiative that fosters an interest in neuroscience and STEM in schools. What do we aim to achieve?

Create an interest of school students in neuroscience by encouraging participation in the competition

Provide students with practical lab experience in neuroscience

Broader knowledge of neuroscience as well as having fun in the process

Provide them with an opportunity to meet with neuroscientists and university students and explore a career in STEM

The competition will challenge students' knowledge about the brain, neuroscience research, neurochemistry and neurophysiology. Students will have an opportunity to widen their knowledge and prepare for the competition with materials provided for each school.

The educational nature of the Brain Bee event will help to change public misconceptions about the brain and, by bringing neuroscience experts and the public together, it will help bridge the gap between public and science. Additionally, science competitions improve reasoning and critical thinking skills and also fosters friendship and teamwork.

We need a financial help to support our regional competition. We will use the money for materials used in a competition, prizes for the winners, and travel expenses for the winner to attend the national competition in London.

Meet the Team

Ludmila Kucikova, Aberdeen Hub Project Manager

Ludmila is an MA Psychology student at the University of Aberdeen, currently taking extra courses in neuroscience and neurophysiology. She wants to specialise in neurodegeneration, namely Alzheimer's, so she started by assisting with the prospective memory research and she aims to be the best neuroscientist in the world, .... or just a scientist, maybe.

Pavel Juranek, Aberdeen Hub Project Manager

Pavel studies MA Business Management at the University of Aberdeen. He reads a lot of books, it doesn't matter if it is science or fiction, he will read it all. In his free time, he likes dogs and changing the world (he started by organizing this competition and the strategy for Aberdonian Brain Bee, help him out!).

Vilma Pullinen, the Promotion Team Leader

Vilma is an MA Psychology student at the University of Aberdeen. Several years of extensive volunteering roles, including eye-tracking research, or working with individuals with mental health difficulties, has taught her the importance of a scientific education. A nice cup of tea with plenty of sugar keeps her so active.

Zuzana Suchomelova, the Funding Team Leader

Zuzana studies MA Psychology at the University of Aberdeen. She is a future clinical psychologist with a deep interest in the neurological basis of mental disorders. Zuzana is passionate about working with children of various ages, guiding them through their education and free-time activities; so she is patient, most of the time.