Amritsar December 29, 2011-The 5th Chandigarh Regional Brain Bee Championship-2012 (a Neuroscience Contest), organized by the joint efforts of Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Indian National Brain Bee (INBB ), Hyderabad was held at the Advanced Eye Centre PGI, Chandigarh. The aim was to capture the imagination of youth and inspire them to pursue a career in neuroscience research.
The quiz was held in 9-rounds that were challenging and aroused lot of interest among the participants.
Gurrein Kaur Madan of Delhi Public School, Amritsar emerged as the Regional ‘Brain Bee’ Champion -2012”, while M. Shruti of Carmel Convent school, Chandigarh and Jasmine of Sacred Heart Sr Sec School, Chandigarh were the runner ups.
This year, for the first time witnessed contestants from 12 schools from the tri-city of Chandigarh, Mohali & Panchkula, and the first time that a contestant from Amritsar participated in this quiz.
Dr. Dheeraj Khurana MD, DM, Additional Professor, Department of Neurology, PGIMER and PGI team officiated the regional rounds of the championship. With Dr Sudhir from the department of Neurology as the quiz master, Professor J.S. Chopra, Professor S. Prabhakar and Professor V. Lal, eminent neuro-physicians of the region, judged the contest. Prof Y Chawla, Director PGIMER Chandigarh was the guest of honor at the event. Professor V. Lal gave an exciting lecture on the neurological basis of migration of animals and birds.
The Regional ‘Brain Bees’ will compete at the national level to be held in Bangalore in April 2012 and the ‘best brain of India’ will participate in the 13th International ‘Brain Bee’ finals to be held in South Africa in mid-2012.
Earlier this year, 16-year old Gurrien, did India proud by becoming the ‘sole’ ‘Junior commissioner from India’ in a group of ten students selected worldwide in the Junior Commission by the University of Warwick in collaboration with New York University, USA.
The commission formed of ten students included one each from Pakistan, India, NZ, Italy, UK, Singapore HK Malaysia and two from Botswana.
Students from as many as 100 countries had submitted their essays but Gurrien‘s essay stood out to be short-listed in the coveted final list of 10, attaining her the prestigious position of Junior Commissioner of Univ of Warwick, USA. She and was invited along with nine other Junior Commissioners to NY University for interactive work on ‘Energy Management and Climate Change’.
