Scores of science-loving teenagers descended on the University of Otago's laboratories yesterday for New Zealand's only neuroscience competition for high school pupils.
About 75 year 11 pupils, from Motueka to Dunedin, attended the neuroscience Brain Bee competition.
South Island Brain Bee organiser Dr Ruth Napper said the competition attracted "the best of the best''.
"It's hard stuff.
"All of the material they study for the competition is extra-curricular, so these students are very driven.''
As well as competing in team and individual challenges relating to the brain, pupils listened to a lecture by University of Otago Psychology lecturer Dr Kristin Hillman on "The brains of slackers'', and participated in a laboratory session on the anatomy of the nervous system.
Riccarton High School pupil Daniel Weim was the overall competition winner.
He will travel to Australia next year to compete in the Brain Bee Challenge National Final.
Results. -
Individual: Daniel Weim (Riccarton High School) 1, Samantha Cronin (Nelson College for Girls) 2, Josh Ting (Christ's College) 3. Teams: Villa Maria College 1, Christ's College 2, Riccarton High School 3.
