For a second straight year, the Dana Foundation is calling on the future neuroscientists of America to submit their most creative brain experiment ideas to the Design a Brain Experiment Competition. Last year we received some incredible submissions; “Examining the Molecular Mechanism for the Behavioral Effects of Chronic Social Defeat on a Mouse Model,” from Michaela Ennis at the Pingry School in New Jersey, was the winning experiment.
Here’s what you need to know about the competition: Submissions must test an idea about the brain, but can be anything from designing an experiment exploring treatments for traumatic brain injury to examining the effects of television on early childhood brain development. Remember, students should not complete their experiment, only design it, so be creative! Submit your best design by January 17 for a chance to win the first place prize of $500 or second place prize of $250. The winning experiments will be announced during Brain Awareness Week (March 11-17) and posted on the Dana Foundation website.
This competition is for U.S. high school students only and can be completed by individual students, groups, or even entire classrooms. However all experiments must be submitted by a high school teacher, school official, or afterschool program coordinator. Each instructor is limited to five total submissions. For more information please refer to the competition’s full guidelines or e-mail competition@dana.org. Good luck!
--Simon Fischweicher
