Since 2015, the Manitoba Neuroscience Network has sponsored the Winnipeg Brain Bee, a neuroscience competition for high school students. The Bee is held annually in mid-March at the University of Manitoba’s Bannatyne campus, and the winner receives the opportunity to represent Winnipeg at the Canadian National Brain Bee, which is held at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Winnipeg Brain Bee is open to all students in Grades 9-12. We have had the pleasure of welcoming students from across Winnipeg, Brandon, and Portage la Prairie.
The Bee offers a full day of learning opportunities related to neuroscience. In addition to the competition, students have the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities organized by University of Manitoba neuroscientists. These have included microscopy and neurophysiology demonstrations, workshops on stroke rehabilitation, and a neuroanatomy workshop where students have the chance to see and touch a real human brain! Previous years have also included a tour of Neurocraft and a visit from the University of Manitoba Chapter of Let’s Talk Science.
Participation in the Winnipeg Brain Bee is completely free! There is no registration fee and all study materials and activities are provided by us!
Learn MoreRegistration will OPEN Feb 1, 2027
for the 2027 Winnipeg Brain Bee competition
The Winnipeg Brain Bee will be taking place on TBD in 2027.
Think you’ve got potential?
Follow the National Brain Bee Competition at brainbee.ca to know what’s happening in 2026 and beyond.
Winnipeg’s top brains!
2026
2026 Winnipeg Brain Bee – 1st place: Shireen Mohammed (Balmoral Hall School)
2026 Winnipeg Brain Bee – 2nd place: Soham Jhanji (Vincent Massey High School, Brandon)
2026 Winnipeg Brain Bee – Honorable Mentions
Cong Tien Dung Phan – Fort Richmond Collegiate,
Gloria Gao – Fort Richmond Collegiate,
Zuha Bint Meraj – Fort Richmond Collegiate,
Reemaz Thakur – Fort Richmond Collegiate,
Lauren Field – Balmoral Hall,
Sarah Goodwill – Warren Collegiate,
Jess Chrusch – Warren Collegiate
Thank you to all volunteers helping with the 2026 event!
Dr. Jennifer Kornelsen
Dr. Aleksandra Glogowska
Camila Chacon
Kaden Baskerville
Edanur Kocer
Hayle Smith
Parisa Tabeshmehr
Jarrad Perron
2021
1st place: Antoni Klonowski (Vincent Massey High School)
2nd place: Ashlyn Nguyen (St. James Collegiate)
3rd place: Madhu Chandrasekaran (Fort Richmond Collegiate)
2020
1st place: Sarah Beel (University of Winnipeg Collegiate)
2nd place: Ziao Zhang (Vincent Massey High School)
3rd place: Ruth Tamiru (St. Mary’s Academy)
2019
1st place: Elayna Paddock (Vincent Massey High School)
2nd place: Sarah Beel (University of Winnipeg Collegiate)
3rd place: Catherine Lin (Vincent Massey High School)
2018
1st place: Muhammad Hayat (Vincent Massey High School)
2nd place: Sandeep Mangat (University of Winnipeg Collegiate)
3rd place: Azka Ahmed (Vincent Massey High School)
2017
1st place: Sophie Kim (Vincent Massey High School)
2nd place: Sandeep Mangat (University of Winnipeg Collegiate)
3rd place: Karsyn Beatty (Vincent Massey High School)
Featured highlight
In 2016 the MNN welcomed Shaw TV to the University of Manitoba Bannatyne campus to cover the 2nd Annual Winnipeg Brain Bee competition. This included a video interview with Dr. Sari Hannila (MNN Director of Outreach and Winnipeg Brain Bee Coordinator) and Winnipeg Brain Bee winners Rachel Gador (2015; River East Collegiate) and Tiara Headworth (2016; River East Collegiate).