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Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition for Year 11 students to learn about the brain, the latest discoveries in neuroscience, and the exciting career opportunities brain research has to offer. The Neurological Foundation is a Brain Bee supporter. N euroscience is by far the most exciting branch of science because the brain is the most fascinating object in the universe. Every human brain is different – the brain makes each human unique and defines who he or she is. Stanley B Prusiner, American neurologist As a Year 11 participant in the New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge, I was one of 25 students awarded with an extraordinary opportunity to immerse myself in ‘a day in the life of a neuroscientist,’ made possible by the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research (CBR) and the gracious support of the Neurological Foundation. The internship included a range of activities – a viewing of the University’s mock MRI, a lab tour guided by one of the University’s PhD students, discussions with neuro researchers and, perhaps the most anticipated event for us students, a tour of the only brain bank in New Zealand. My passion for science and mathematics is driven by my joy for solving problems. These subjects transcend mindless memorisation; they push us to apply knowledge in creative and unorthodox ways to overcome challenges. As such, I was fascinated by neuroscience whose interdisciplinary nature challenges us to consult knowledge from across different subjects to formulate an understanding of it. Besides, it is difficult not to be intrigued by how a collection of tiny cells can give way to elaborate thoughts and ultimately shape our unique experience of the world. The internship was eye-opening for me. During Brain Bee, many of us may have regarded neuroscience as just another academic endeavour. The internship allowed me to see that these facts are not just words in a notebook; they are the key to scientific journeys that could improve the lives of millions of people with neurological diseases. They are the key to allowing us to discover the very essence of our existence. A valuable takeaway for me was meeting other students with similar passions and goals to mine, and talking to people at the CBR who’ve dedicated their lives to neuroscience: to work that may never be completed in their lifetime. United by their quest for knowledge, they will leave behind research at the frontier of neuroscience that will serve as the groundwork for our understanding of the most complex object in the universe. Meera Mistry, Westlake Girls’ High School Read other Brain Bee essays: Neurological.org.nz/news Q: How do we grow a pipeline of future neuroscience and healthcare professionals? A: Hook them early! As part of this year’s Brain Bee, the Neurological Foundation supported internships for 25 high school students at the Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, and six at the University of Otago’s Brain Health Research Centre. The students experienced “a day in the life of a neuroscientist” and came away inspired. Meera Mistry shares her thoughtful insights with Headlines readers. Students inspired by BRAIN BEE INTERNSHIPS Headlines 19