FORMER Woodleigh School student Braeden Van de Beek has shown what rewards hard work and determination can bring, after making it to the International Brain Bee Neuroscience Challenge.
Van de Beek participated in the competition – held virtually between 31 July and 5 August – after first winning the Victorian challenge followed by last year’s Australian challenge.
He was one of 10 students representing the eight states and territories of Australia and both islands of New Zealand in the battle to find an Australian and a New Zealand Brain Bee Champion.
The competitions aim to inspire students to pursue careers in neuroscience, with students having to show a level of competency across different challenges.
Van de Beek, 15, is now completing year 11 and year 12 subjects at The John Monash Science School, hopes his achievements will help spread the word to other young people about what opportunities are available.
Since taking on neuroscience challenges, van de Beek said he had learned so much about how the brain works and its complexity, and had connected to new areas of science and others who share the same passion.
The International Brain Bee was founded in 1998 by Dr Norbert Myslinski with a mission to build better brains to fight brain disorders. Since its inception, it has inspired thousands of students to study and pursue careers in neuroscience.
Although he did not place as an international finalist, van de Beek said he enjoyed meeting neuroscience students and professors from around the world and had developed a passion for the rapidly expanding field of neuroscience.
First published in the Mornington News – 22 August 2023
