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Queensland
QLD State Finals: 2009 2008 2007 2006
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2009 Queensland State Final
The 2009 Queensland State Final was held on June 16th, 2009 at The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus.
The Program for the 2009 final can be downloaded from here.
The Student Guide for the 2009 final can be downloaded from here.
Above: ABBC coordinator Professor Linda Richards and 2009 ABBC (Qld) individual winner Millie Macdonald from Cleveland District State High School.
Above: 1st Place Individual Challenge
Millie Macdonald - Cleveland District State High School CLEVELAND
Above: From left to right
2nd Place Individual Challenge
Sarah Thomas - Somerset College MUDGEERABA
1st Place Individual Challenge
Millie Macdonald - Cleveland District State High School CLEVELAND
3rd Place Individual Challenge
Chanchanok Chaichim - Queensland Academies of Science Mathematics and Technology TOOWONG
Team Challenge
Above: 1st Place Team Challenge
Jocelyn Bosse, Chanchanok Chaichim, Christopher Martin, Hayden Champion
Queensland Academies of Science Mathematics and Technology, Toowong
Above: 2nd Place Team Challenge
Kelvin Scarabel, Oliver Piva, Czarwill Hyne, Bernadette Dash
Burdekin Catholic High School, Ayr
Above: 3rd Place Team Challenge
Winnie Yum, Michelle Ball, Savini Liyanagama, Lily Xu
Somerville House, South Brisbane
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Noteworthy Solo Effort For 2009 ABBC State Final Winner
Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) judges were greatly impressed by the determined solo effort which saw a single representative from the outer Brisbane suburb of Cleveland storm home to win the individual round of the 2009 Queensland competition yesterday (Tuesday, 16 June).
Undaunted by not being able to entice her classmates to join her in the comp, Cleveland District State High School student Millie Macdonald fought through to win the dramatic final individual round of the ABBC (Qld), the nation's most prestigious neuroscience knowledge competition for highschool students.
Organised annually by the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) the Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is Australia's biggest neuroscience competition for high school students, attracting more than 3000 competitors from 234 schools nationally in 2009.
Yesterday's Queensland finals involved more than 130 students from 30 Queensland high schools.
Runners up in the individual final were Sarah Thomas (Somerset College, Mudgeeraba ) and Chanchanok Chaichim (Queensland Academies of Science Mathematics and Technology, Toowong ).
A team from the Queensland Academies of Science Mathematics and Technology won the team challenge (see details below).
Ms Macdonald will progress to the national final in Sydney in January 2010, where she will compete against other state and territory winners, and attend the annual meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society.
The winner of the national final will then represent Australia at the 2010 International Brian Bee in the United States.
Team winners from the state final received microscopes and binoculars donated by Carl Zeiss, Australia (major sponsor) for their schools, as well as neuroscience books from Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Ipods from Infinite Systems, plus commemorative UQ pens and T-shirts.
2009 INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE - Qld
1st Place Individual Challenge
Millie Macdonald - Cleveland District State High School CLEVELAND
2nd Place Individual Challenge
Sarah Thomas - Somerset College MUDGEERABA
3rd Place Individual Challenge
Chanchanok Chaichim - Queensland Academies of Science Mathematics and Technology Toowong
TEAM CHALLENGE - Qld
1st Place Team Challenge
Jocelyn Bosse, Chanchanok Chaichim, Christopher Martin, Hayden Champion
Queensland Academies of Science Mathematics and Technology, Toowong
2nd Place Team Challenge
Kelvin Scarabel, Oliver Piva, Czarwill Hyne, Bernadette Dash
Burdekin Catholic High School, Ayr
3rd Place Team Challenge
Winnie Yum, Michelle Ball, Savini Liyanagama, Lily Xu
Somerville House, South Brisbane
More photographs available under the "view proofs" section online here: www.lyleradford.com.au
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Students have fun and the collegial feeling is strong as students confer in the Team Challenge for the School Prize; and get serious as they compete in the Individual Challenge to win a place in the National Final.
 
 
 
Students take lab tours, watch neuroscientists conducting experiments and listen to lectures, all of which are designed to provide an understanding of what it means to work in science and illuminate possible career paths.
 
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3 Sep 2008 - Smart Women - Smart State Awards
FORMER Australian Brain Bee Challenge finalist Sophie Hill continues to make an impressive start to what looks like being a long and successful science career.
ABOVE: (L-R) UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield, QBI's Head of Cortical Development and Axon Guidance Professor Linda Richards, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning) Professor Deborah Terry and award winner Sophie Hill at a recent function to acknowledge her achievement. Photo: Jeremy Patten, The University of Queensland
In September, Sophie won the Secondary School Students category of the Queensland Government's Smart Women Smart State Awards.
At the State Library of Queensland on 2 September, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and the Minister for Women, Ms Margaret Keech, congratulated 15 Smart Women Smart State Award winners, which included 17-year-old Sophie Hill from Brisbane's Kelvin Grove State College.
The awards shine the spotlight on women who are leading the way in science, engineering and information and communication technology (ICT).
Sophie Hill's entry "Nuclear Factor One A and Nuclear Factor B Gene Expression in the Adult Mouse Hippocampus" resulted from her recent work experience in the laboratory of QBI's Professor Linda Richards.
Research into the neural regenerative capacities in adult mice is assisting to better understand how the human brain works in relation to disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
As well as being a finalist in the 2007 Australian Brain Bee Challenge, Sophie is a school captain, plays in the Kelvin Grove State College school band and has already been involved in several school science fairs.
Her ambition is to study either medicine or biomedical science.
Sophie was one of three UQ women to receive a Smart Women Smart State Award this year.
August 4th, 2008 - Queensland's Bright Young Star Does Us Proud
ABOVE: QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett (right) and Zeiss representative Dr Mark Stafford present the ABBC 2008 runner-up prize to Somerset College (Qld) student Casey Linton.
Casey Linton of Somerset College (Qld) finished runner-up in an exciting finish to the National Final Challenge on 4 August, 2008 that had the audience gasping. Students fought their way through two rounds of tough neuroscience questions, a brain teasing anatomy exam and a doctor-patient diagnosis test, stunning the judges with their neuroscience knowledge.
ABBC National Coordinator, Professor Linda Richards said the Brain Bee remained one of the most important and exciting programs on the neuroscience calendar because it had become the showcase for the brightest young minds in neuroscience.
"The Brain Bee encourages high school students to learn about the brain, and helps to raise the profile of neuroscience research and neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases facing our community," Dr Richards said.
"A goal of the Brain Bee Challenge is to promote science as a career with a particular focus on neuroscience."
With the support and assistance of neuroscientists in Australia and New Zealand, the ABBC introduces a wide cross-section of young people to neuroscience - often called the final frontier - in a positive environment that encourages and rewards excellence.
Major sponsors of the Brain Bee Challenge include Carl Zeiss Pty Ltd, The University of Queensland, the Queensland Brain Institute and The Australian Neuroscience Society.
June 24th, 2008 - Somerset College takes home two trophies
Tensions and emotions were both running high at the 2008 state finals of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge, which saw Somerset College win both the individual and teams competitions at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI).
Casey Linton, who won the individual competition in a close tussle, was joined on the winning dais by fellow competitors, Louisa Morello, Greta Mayr, Roy Kuo, who combined to win the team competition for Somerset College.
ABBC coordinator and QBI neuroscientist Professor Linda Richards congratulated the more than 100 finalists who came from schools as far away as Rockhampton and Mareeba to compete in an event she described as a huge success.
"It was especially wonderful that we could have the brain bee in our new Queensland Brain Institute building," Dr Richards said. The competition continued at a fast pace throughout the day with some nail-biting moments as more teams were eliminated in the preliminary rounds - which was filmed by local television network Channel 10."
Dr Richards thanked the Minister for Education and Training Mr Rod Welford MP for coming to QBI to officially open this year's finals.
During his opening remarks, Mr Welford congratulated QBI on its ongoing research efforts in seeking to understand the mechanisms that underpin memory and learning.
"Health is going to be one of the major issues of the twenty-first century," Mr Welford said.
During a lunch-time lecture, QBI's Foundation Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, Professor Jason Mattingley entertained students with a presentation about neuroscience and the nature of conscious experience, which demonstrated the astounding capacity of the brain for selective attention.
Dr Richards said she had also received very positive feedback from the students and teachers who attended tours of laboratories and neuroscience demonstrations, particularly UQ's Centre for Magnetic Resonance, which was again one of the favourites.
"Overall, the event inspired and excited young Australians, challenging them to think about neuroscience in a whole new way," Dr Richards said.
2008 Queensland State Final
The 2008 State Final was held on June 24th, 2008 at the Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus. 26 teams (one per school) were invited to compete and 103 individual finalists competed.
*Photographs by Mr Lyle Radford and Mr Ron Hohenhaus
Results of Round 2 ABBC Queensland Final 2008
Team Competition:
1st place: Somerset College, Greta Mayr, Louisa Morello, Roy Kuo, Casey Linton
2nd place: Mount Alvernia College Kristy Butler, Elise Byrne, Stephanie Mills, Tianna Camilleri, right - shaking hands, Dr Mark Stafford, Carl Zeiss Australasia Pty Ltd and far right, Mr Luke Martin, Next Byte.
3rd place: The Rockhampton Grammar School Chantal McNaught, Ifreet Mahmood, Amy Leeder, Robert Hasell, right - shaking hands, Dr Mark Stafford, Carl Zeiss Australasia Pty Ltd
Individual Competition:
1st place: Casey Linton, Somerset College, right, Prof. David Vaney, President of the Australian Neuroscience Society.
2nd place: Kristy Butler, Mount Alvernia College, receiving a medal from Assoc. Prof. Lesley Lluka, Faculty of Biolgcal and Chemical Sciences.
3rd place: Lauren Simpson, Proserpine State High School, right, Dr Mark Stafford, Carl Zeiss Australasia Pty Ltd
More photos from the day
The 2008 ABBC Queensland State Final was officially opened by The Honourable Rod Welford MP, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts.
from left, Prof. Michael Keniger, UQ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Teaching, Professor Linda Richards, ABBC National Coordinator, and The Honourable Rod Welford MP, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts.
Mount Alvernia College Team
2007 Queensland State Final
The 2007 State Final was held on March 13th, 2007 at the Queensland Bioscience Precinct auditorium, The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus. 10 teams were invited to compete and 62 individual finalists competed.
Results of Round 2 ABBC Queensland Final 2007
1st place: St Pauls School, (Infinite Systems Representative, Prof Mick McManus, Dean, Biological and Chemical Sciences) Louise Horsley, James Bennett, James Nightingale, Courtney Landers, (Prof. Perry Bartlett, Director, Queensland Brain Institute, Dr Diane Muller, Carl Zeiss, Australasia Pty Ltd).
2nd place: Somerset College Colin Finke, Joshua Chakravaty, (Diane Muller (Carl Zeiss Australasia Pty Ltd), Nigel Thomas, Julia Medland
3rd place: Kelvin Grove State College Sophie Hill, Michael Copson, Joseph O'Neill, Matthew Hardman
Individual Competition:
1st place: James Bennett, St Pauls School centre, Prof. Perry Bartlett, Director, Queensland Brain Institute (left) and Prof. Mick McManus, Dean, Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences (right).
2nd place: Nigel Thomas, Somerset College, centre, Dr Diane Muller, Carl Zeiss Australasia, Pty Ltd (left) and Prof. Shaun Collin, Brisbane Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (right).
3rd place: Sophie Hill, Kelvin Grove State College, (centre) Dr Diane Muller, Carl Zeiss Australasia, Pty Ltd (left) and Prof. Shaun Collin, Brisbane Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (right).
Photos from the day
2006 Queensland/ National Final
2006 was the first year the ABBC was held. Only Queensland and Northern NSW schools were involved. Only one State final was held and the winner, Tim Mew, went straight on to compete in the International Final.
The 2006 Final was held on March 14th, 2006 at the Queensland Bioscience Precinct auditorium, The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus. 38 teams were invited to compete and 210 individual finalists competed.
Results of Round 2 ABBC Queensland Final 2006
Team Competition:
1st place: Somerset College, Joshua Chakravarty, Colin Finke, Nigel Thomas, Julia Medland (left, Dr Diane Muller, Carl Zeiss Australasia Pty Ltd, back, Professor Linda Richards, ABBC NationalCoordinator).
2nd place: Trinity College Lismore, Matt Fitzpatrick, Samantha Deaker, Louise Higgins, Kate Lennon, (left, Mr Tony Saliba, Carl Zeiss Australasia, Pty Ltd).
3rd place: Redlands College, David Mogg, Rebecca Porter, Joanna Baehr, Sheery Chen (left, Mr Tony Saliba, Carl Zeiss Australasia, Pty Ltd)
4th place: St Pauls School, Kyle Hetherington, Jed Burns, Kathryn Noakes, Sam Morrison (left, Mr Tony Saliba, Carl Zeiss Australasia, Pty Ltd)
Individual Competition:
1st place: Timothy Mew, St Pauls School right, Professor Linda Richards, ABBC National Coordinator.
2nd place: Katelin Haynes, West Moreton Anglican College, left Prof. Shaun Collin, Brisbane Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.
3rd place: Kathryn Noakes, St Pauls School, left Prof. Shaun Collin, Brisbane Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.
4th place: James Bennett, St Pauls School
More photos from the day
(Teacher spot prize competition)
Lecture by Assoc. Prof. Geoff Goodhill, Queensland Brain Institute
Tours of the University campus
Tours of the Queensland Brain Institute Laboratories. Prof. Pankaj Sah demonstrating an experiment in progress.
Our first ever finalist, Tim Mew, his joy says it all.
Contact Us
Professor Linda Richards
ABBC National and Queensland Coordinator
School of Biomedical Sciences
Queensland Brain Institute
The University of Qld
Email: abbc@uq.edu.au
Ph: +61 7 3346 6355
Fax: +61 7 3346 6301
Rhonda Lyons
ABBC National and Queensland Administrator
Queensland Brain Institute
The University of Qld
Email: abbc@uq.edu.au
Ph: +61 7 3346 6412
Fax: +61 7 3346 6301
Anna Bednarek
Communications Manager
Queensland Brain Institute
Tel: +61 7 3346 6414
Fax: +61 7 3346 6301
Email: a.bednarek@uq.edu.au
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