2019 Competitors

Natalia is a recent graduate from Leopold Lis-Kula High School in Rzeszow. She has been interested in psychology since junior high school, but participating in the Brain Bee let her explore the biology of the human brain. Fascinated by discovering molecular secrets about the nervous system, she decided to pursue a career as a scientist working on the biochemical and molecular basis of memory and mental diseases. Natalia has had an opportunity to complete internships in molecular biology laboratories and engage in neuroscience research, which deepened her interest in molecular sciences. Besides neuroscience, Natalia enjoys dancing, listening to good music, and developing photography skills. Her plans for the nearest future, besides developing a science career, include learning Chinese language and programming.

Yidou (Gwen) Weng is a student at Jiangxi Normal University in China. She had only, until recently, followed the standard Chinese curriculum, developing an interest in nearly every school subject for the past 16 years. Everything changed when the book, What a Plant Knows opened a brand-new world about science and passion. Many ideas from various books have inspired her to pursue neuroscience. In particular, Uncovering the biological basis of human higher cognition has led her to want to become a neuropsychologist. She firmly believes that deep expertise in both neurology and psychology are imperative to achieving her career goals. She sees her participation in the International Brain Bee as the first step toward achieving her dream, and is excited to participate with fellow students from around the world.

Kamand SoufiAbadi is a 12th grade student at Farzanegan 1: No. 56. She was introduced to neuroscience when she accidentally bumped into a large brain poster on her school’s announcement board. She decided to enlist in the Brain Bee competition and has been fascinated with neuroscience ever since. She also loves math and physics, and finds it beautiful that every science major has a correlation with mathematics. Kamand enjoys jazz and folk music and her favorite movie is Her.

Silas Hansch-Maher is an 11th year student at St. Ignatius College in Athelstone, South Australia. At school, he strives to learn more than is taught in the classroom and is especially intrigued by the sciences. He also enjoys extending himself in math and Latin because both topics provide interesting challenges. Silas is an enthusiastic member of his school’s debate team and is passionate about his involvement. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, socializing with friends, and listening to music. He also enjoys keeping up with current events. Silas discovered the exciting and complex world of neuroscience upon entering his state competition, and he has found learning about the brain incredibly fascinating and enjoyable.

Gustavo Miller Santos is an eleventh-grade student at the Technical High School of Campinas (COTUCA). Having always been passionate about technology, he studies Information Technology (IT) at his school. Gustavo also became intrigued by biology a few years ago, and since then, studying its complexities has become one of his greatest hobbies. This year, he won a gold medal in the Brazilian Biology Olympiad. In Gustavo’s free time, he enjoys reading, watching series, listening to music, and spending time with friends. He finds neuroscience fascinating and ultimately hopes to connect his knowledge of computer science to assist people with neurological disorders. Gustavo is excited about the opportunity to participate in the IBB and to learn more about the complexities of the nervous system. He feels honored to represent Brazil in the competition.

Zhongyi Sun recently graduated from Old Scona Academic High School in Edmonton, Alberta and will be attending the University of Alberta next year. She enjoys staying productive by reading, watching instructional videos, or doing homework. In her free time, she enjoys playing flute, singing karaoke, and playing mobile games. She also listens to many types of music, ranging from classical to pop. Zhongyi’s interest in neuroscience stemmed from her fascination with the complexities of the nervous system. She is especially drawn to the intriguing nature of the yet-to-be-discovered causes of certain neural disorders (such as epilepsies) which are currently under research. In the future, she hopes to apply her knowledge of the nervous system to improve the lives of people with these unfortunate disorders and diseases.

Yidou (Gwen) Weng is a student at Jiangxi Normal University in China. She had only, until recently, followed the standard Chinese curriculum, developing an interest in nearly every school subject for the past 16 years. Everything changed when the book, What a Plant Knows opened a brand-new world about science and passion. Many ideas from various books have inspired her to pursue neuroscience. In particular, Uncovering the biological basis of human higher cognition has led her to want to become a neuropsychologist. She firmly believes that deep expertise in both neurology and psychology are imperative to achieving her career goals. She sees her participation in the International Brain Bee as the first step toward achieving her dream, and is excited to participate with fellow students from around the world.

Youssef Hossam is a senior student at ElNasr Boys’ School in Alexandria, Egypt. Through his father, a scientist, he was exposed to scientific thinking early on, which helped to develop his passion towards diverse fields like Physics, Biology and Neuroscience. This drove him to achieve an outstanding academic record, ranking top of his class for 14 consecutive semesters, engage in research projects on Immunology and Physical Energy and be elected as president of his school’s student union. He actively participates in scientific competitions, like Science Olympiads and International Brain Bee. He is amazed by the electro-chemical underpinnings of brain circuits. He is also interested in Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy as a useful tool to reorganize brain circuits affected in pathological conditions. He hopes to have a career researching these topics alongside being a neurologist. In his leisure time, Youssef enjoys learning languages, like German, and engages in activities related to politics, economics and entrepreneurship.

Seung-Bin Joo is a 16-year-old Korean student attending the International School of Paris in France. From a young age, he has developed a strong curiosity and interest in physics and mathematics. Whether it was devouring physics books or self-learning calculus, Seung-Bin has always been an avid learner excited to discover new things. In grade 10, he was encouraged by his sister to join the ISP Neuroscience Club. At first, he was hesitant to do so: the club seemed like an elite group of the school’s most “hard-core” biologists. However, once giving it a try, he realized that he could not have been more wrong. The neuroscience club was a great learning environment that allowed his interest in neuroscience to grow exponentially. Seung-Bin’s fascination in neuroscience is well expressed by a quote from Marian Diamond, a professor of neuroanatomy at the University of California, Berkeley: “The brain is a three pound mass you can hold in your hand that can conceive of a universe a hundred billion light-years across.” Fueled by this fascination, Seung-Bin is excited to represent France in the International Brain Bee. He believes that neuroscience will provide an invaluable foundation of knowledge which he would love to integrate into his future career in areas such as mechanical and aerospace engineering. Some of his passions outside of academics includes landscape photography, orchestral film composition, speedcubing, chess, and basketball.

Jasmin Alami is a 16-year-old high school student attending Robert Schuman Gymnasium Cham and living in the heart of the Bavarian forest. Biology – being her favorite subject in school – has always been a big interest of hers. Her passion for neuroscience in particular sparked when she discovered a book about the brain in the local library several years ago. She is fascinated by the complexity of the whole nervous system and wants to gain a deeper understanding of it. In her future, Jasmin intends to study neuroscience in order to eventually be an active member in research of the nervous system. Aside from neuroscience, Jasmin is also involved in photography, which she enjoys especially together with her best friend. She was recently awarded a regional photography prize. Additionally, she enjoys running and dancing as a balance to everyday life. Jasmin is both honored and excited to represent Germany at the International Brain Bee 2019.

Jevonie Thomas is a 15-year-old form 4 student at the J.W Fletcher Catholic Secondary School in Grenada. He is enthusiastic about the fields of biology, linguistics, dietetics and physics. He intends to pursue a career that incorporates all of these subjects, starting with neurologist and ending with dietician. Three of his many aspiring goals are to contribute to a cure for Schizophrenia, give a Ted Talk, and to lead the Neurology Department at a hospital. After hearing and researching the story of Charles Whitman, Jevonie has become fascinated by the field of Neuroethics. He has what he would call an “eternal hunger for knowledge.” This is what drives most his life’s goals and actions.

Genper Wong attends St. Paul’s Co-Educational College in Hong Kong. Through his biology lessons, he has become fascinated by the wonders of nature. Biology is one of his favourite subjects and he is particularly interested in neurology, human anatomy and cellular biology. Recently, he has also ventured into the world of organic chemistry. Although he likes calculus and topology, the manipulation of formulas in physics has never been his primary interest. In addition to science, he is also captivated by Chinese literature and classical Latin. In his spare time, Genper enjoys playing the piano and listening to music; he especially loves contemporary classical music. In the future, he plans to write philosophy books and become a university researcher. It is Genper’s ambition to learn everything in the world!

Disha Agrawal is a 12th grade student at Modern School in New Delhi. Her primary topics of study include biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. She plans to pursue a career in medicine and harness the newer developments of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Her interest in neuroscience developed after reading about the intricacies of the human brain while preparing for the Brain Bee competitions. She wishes to become a neurologist and is driven by the desire to unravel the mechanisms behind several neurological disorders to contribute to finding cures. She is also an enthusiastic pianist and takes keen interest in music and tennis in her spare time. Her favourite compositions are by Yanni – mysterious and powerful, just like the brain.

Kamand SoufiAbadi is a 12th grade student at Farzanegan 1: No. 56. She was introduced to neuroscience when she accidentally bumped into a large brain poster on her school’s announcement board. She decided to enlist in the Brain Bee competition and has been fascinated with neuroscience ever since. She also loves math and physics, and finds it beautiful that every science major has a correlation with mathematics. Kamand enjoys jazz and folk music and her favorite movie is Her.

Michael is a student at Colaiste Einde in Ireland. He is especially interested in biology and chemistry. Michael is trained in first aid and has won national competitions in first aid as both an individual and as part of a team. Although these competitions developed his passion for helping others, they did not necessarily inspire a career in medicine or science. Michael is unsure of his career path, but learning about the neurobiological aspect of addiction, decision-making and mental health has helped him to realize that neuroscience applies to more than just the academic world and scientific community, as it is the study of what makes us who we are. His other interests include classic films, contemporary theatre, music (especially jazz), professional wrestling and drama.

Ely is a 16-year-old high school student studying neuroscience at the Weizmann Institute in Isreal. He was always interested in science as a kid, but while he may spend the night dreaming about string theory and thalamic nuclei, he spends the day running into people as an avid American football player. When he finds time away from studying and football practices, he likes to hang out with his friends at the beach, attend parties (responsibly and sober, of course), and occasionally read a good book. He wants to be a doctor in the future, but whether that means being a neurosurgeon, neurologist, or something without “neuro” is still undecided. His main motivation for winning this competition is make his family members proud and to prove to his older sister that he has what it takes to compete in a world class competition.

Giuseppe Imperatore is in his final year of high school at Ils Liceo Fermi in Italy. His favorite subjects are biology, physics, and chemistry. He has loved medicine since he was a child, is especially interested in human pathology and anatomy, and would like to become a pediatric neurosurgeon. He is also very interested in clinical biochemistry and scientific research in the field of neuronal regeneration. In his spare time, he likes to read foreign novels, listen to classical music (especially Paganini and Mozart) and he has been keen on cinematography and swimming for several years. Finally, Giuseppe really likes to travel both in Italy and abroad and visit museums and historical places as he is passionate about the history of classical and Renaissance art.

Riki Shimizu is a 12th grade student at Nada High School in Japan. He is fascinated by the enourmous potential that neuroscience can have on our society and desires to continue this line of study into undergraduate. He is especially interested in the research of molecular biology and the development of next-generation Brain Machine Interface. In addition to science, he is also interested in various subjects such as business, politics, and international affairs. In the summer of 2019, he was invited to join the Boys and Girls United Nations Ambassador 2019 and visited Malmo in Sweden and Geneva in Switzerland to study SDGs. His hobbies include reading books, playing tennis and poker, and listening to classical music or whatever stimulates his curiosity. Riki is excited to participate in the IBB with many talented students from all around the world.

Alice Bichanga is an 18-year-old student at Kianda School in Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. She is described as sociable, hardworking, and knowledge-seeking. While she has not yet settled on a future career aspiration, Alice is fascinated by the workings of the human brain. In her free time, she enjoys playing chess, reading novels, and practicing Taekwondo (where she has achieved the rank of red belt). Alice believes that throughout the course of preparing for the Brain Bee Competition, she will have started the pursuit of knowledge that is necessary to enhance the lives of individuals coping with neurological disorders. It is Alice’s desire to explore the ever-expanding capacity for knowledge which we harbour inside our minds.

Dong-won Lee is a second-year student at Daesung High School in Korea. He is full of curiosity and tends to search for theoretical reasonings. These characteristics have bolstered his learning experience in many diverse subjects, especially science. After meeting many people and going through various experiences, he developed a deep interest in human consciousness and mentality. While studying biology, philosophy, and neuroscience, he stumbled across a book called, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. This book is what led him to fall in love with the human brain and to adopt the dream of being a scholar in psychology and neuroscience. Furthermore, Dong-won created his own club named Biochemistry in Daesung (BID) with his friends. As a leader of BID, he and club members have conducted several studies. Dong-won strives to pour passion into every moment of his life.

Un Wai Choi recently graduated from Colégio de Santa Rosa de Lima – Secção Chinesa in Macao. She was the class representative for six consecutive years in the Student Union and has been the vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. Un Wai is passionate about biology and neuroscience. She hopes to use her knowledge and understanding to help others in need, through medical research in her future career. Last year her project, which explored the factors affecting youth on the usage of and support for Chinese Medicine, was chosen to be the winner of a research competition. In addition to her studies, she enjoys playing the piano and violin in her spare time as well as collecting stamps and travelling. She was also a member of the Macao Conservatory Orchestra. In September, she will begin medical school to pursue her dream to become a doctor or physician-scientist. Un Wai feels extremely honored and grateful to be able to represent Macao at the 2019 World Brain Bee Championships.

Ahmad Darwisy Bin Shaifuzain is a 17-year-old, form five student from Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, Kelantan, Malaysia (public boarding school). He will be sitting for his final year examination in a few months from now. Although he is juggling studying for his examinations as well as for this competition, he is enjoying the pressure. At school, he holds the position of deputy head prefect which requires him to also be active in the school’s student council. His favourite subjects are mathematics and biology. He has won many awards in various mathematics competitions in Malaysia such as Kangaroo Math Competition, as well as internationally such as SASMO, AIMO and WMGO since he was 13. His interest in neuroscience began when he started studying biology in school in early 2018. He loves reading books and articles on neurosciences, as well as other subjects for fun.

Yatish Aryal attends K.K. International School in Napal. Since the age of five, he has been fascinated by doctors that serve the poor and needy in his country. Yatish is interested in brain diseases and disorders, such as addiction, epilepsy, stroke, parkinsonism, and dementia. He has seen many senior citizens in his county that have had strokes or suffer parkinsonism and he wants to become a neurologist to help them. Yatish thinks the IBB is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to neuroscience and to learn from an early age. He is excited to meet the emeritus professors and other faculties working in brain research, to broaden his knowledge. He is also excited to meet and connect with the other students that will be participating in the brain bee competition. He especially hopes to maintain connection with them and share ideas in the future. Yatish is honored to represent his country and aims to bring the knowledge he will gain to eventually serve his home community in a holistic approach.

Myrthe Weessies is a 19-year-old student attending Stedelijk Gymnasium Nijmegen: Kronenbrgersingel 269 school in the Netherlands. Ultimately, she plans to become a doctor. Outside of academics, Myrthe enjoys judo, being an entertainer for children, and reading all types of books. Myrthe’s hair color frequently changes as it has been black, red, and even purple. Winning the national round of the brain bee in the Netherlands was amazing and Myrthe is excited for continuing on in the competition.

Sophia Ye is a year 12 student from ACG Parnell College in Auckland. Sophia has been interested in science, especially biology and the processes of living things, her entire life. She first started to become fascinated by the brain a couple of years ago, and has since been drawn in by how complex and intricate it is. Sophia aspires to study medicine in the future, and contribute to something that will positively impact the lives of others. Outside of school, Sophia participates in contemporary dance and volunteer work. In her spare time, she also enjoys drawing, swimming, reading and spending time with friends. Sophia is most excited for the opportunity to neuroscience, a topic she is passionate about, and to meet others with similar interests.

Natalia is a recent graduate from Leopold Lis-Kula High School in Rzeszow. She has been interested in psychology since junior high school, but participating in the Brain Bee let her explore the biology of the human brain. Fascinated by discovering molecular secrets about the nervous system, she decided to pursue a career as a scientist working on the biochemical and molecular basis of memory and mental diseases. Natalia has had an opportunity to complete internships in molecular biology laboratories and engage in neuroscience research, which deepened her interest in molecular sciences. Besides neuroscience, Natalia enjoys dancing, listening to good music, and developing photography skills. Her plans for the nearest future, besides developing a science career, include learning Chinese language and programming.

Covache-Busuioc Răzvan-Adrian is a 12th grade high school student at Colegiul National “Alexandru loan Cuza” in Romania. Covache-Busuioc’s passion for biology and related sciences began at 14 years old. Covache-Busuioc participated in every year’s biology national olympiad in Romania, also in the 2018 European Union’s Science Olympiad and 2019 International Biology Olympiad. In their spare time, Covache-Busuioc loves reading books, mostly related to arts, philosophy and history. Next year Covache-Busuioc plans to attend medical school and fulfill his dream of practicing medicine and helping people. Covache-Busuioc hopes that one day, their work and passion, will bring hope in places where all hope is gone.

Yau Chun En is a 17-year-old student from Singapore. In his free time, Yau enjoys playing casual badminton, sleeping, swimming and lugging biology textbooks around. He first encountered biology when he was 15 and has been fascinated with the subject since then. He aims to lead a lifestyle where he can sustain himself on less coffee and less time holed up in his room.

Igor spent the first nine years of school ​focusing on the study of English before ​enrolling in a Ukrainian medical lyceum. He ​was motivated to enter the specialized lyceum ​to study biology intensely. Last year, Igor participated in the Ukrainian National Biology Olympiad. This year, he became interested in Neuroscience because it’s really exciting to know and understand how the most sophisticated machine in the world works. Igor is also eager to better understand how we can apply our knowledge of neuroscience to AI for neurological diseases treatments. He is currently a student at Kyiv National University studying Biology. In his free time, Igor enjoys solving challenging math and physics problems, playing guitar, and reading (mostly scientific) books.

Pranjal Naryani is a class 12 student at The Indian High School, Dubai. Pranjal’s has interest in not only biology, but literature and math as well. She has won distinction in Math and English Olympiad and even represented her country for APMO. Her father first introduced her to neuroscience and it all began with one sentence – “Brain is the most logical and most mathematical organ of the human body.” Her interest in neuroscience mirrors the teachings and motivation of her parents, who have constantly mentored and boosted her self-esteem. She is amused by the untrodden path the study of brain offers to young learners and how their minds, and thoughts can shape the world. She hopes that someday she can give her significant contribution to the field and make a difference.

Caius Gibeily is a Scottish student at George Heriot’s School Lauriston PI, UK. He plans to study biological sciences at university and has an avid interest in a wide range of subjects, from linguistics to physics, to coding artificial lifeforms and playing the violin in his free time while supporting his family of fish and plants. His interest in biology stems from his fascination for the complexity found in different living systems. He delivered a presentation to his school’s biology department on his research into the ‘random-walk’ foraging behaviour of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, and was awarded gold medals in the British Biology and Mathematics Olympiads. Caius’s fascination in neuroscience began in philosophy with the substrates of consciousness and methods of modelling neural networks via a computing language including Python. He considers the competition an exciting means to meet other competitors who are equally passionate about science and form new neural engrams of and in the brain.

John Yang is a senior attending Princeton High School in the United States. Besides winning the 2019 USA Brain Bee, John is also a USA Biology Olympiad Bronze Medalist. He placed 4th internationally in the Toronto Biology Olympiad. Currently, John interns at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute studying how neural circuits are involved in aggression and contributed to a novel machine learning behavioral algorithm. He has also led Princeton High School to winning first place in the 2019 National Euro Challenge Competition. His dual passion for biology and economics comes from a desire to benefit individuals in their everyday lives and tries to pay it forward by coaching his middle school Science Bowl team, hopefully passing on his love for knowledge and discovery.