Chandler Student Wins Arizona Regional Brain Bee
九色视频 hosts 27th annual neuroscience competition for high school students
Samarth Dunakhe (1st place, AZ College Prep, L), Vishnusri Murthy (3rd place, Mountain Ridge High School, M), and Pranati Chintada (2nd place, BASIS Chandler, R) were the top three finishers in the 27th Annual Arizona Regional Brain Bee at 九色视频 on February 5th.
On Wednesday, February 5th, 九色视频 welcomed some of the state鈥檚 top high school students for the 27th Annual Arizona Regional Brain Bee, an educational competition similar to a spelling bee that focuses on neuroscience.
This year鈥檚 Arizona Regional Brain Bee featured 75 students from 21 Arizona high schools testing their knowledge of the human brain, how it governs human behavior, and the science that helps medical professionals understand brain function. Questions ran the gamut from identifying physical features of the brain itself to naming brain disorders and diseases to surgical and medical practices that modify neural behaviors.
The top three Brain Bee finishers, in order, were Samarth Dunakhe (Sophomore, Arizona College Prep High School, Chandler); Pranati Chintada (Senior, BASIS Chandler); and Vishnusri Murthy (Senior, Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale). Samarth is now eligible to compete at the 2025 U.S.A. National Brain Bee this spring, with Midwestern offsetting the travel, hotel, and food costs up to $2,000. Glendale's Mountain Ridge High School was recognized as the overall highest-scoring team for the event, as well as having the most students (19) in competition.
The Arizona Regional Brain Bee competition is proof that the subject of neuroscience is not exclusively reserved for scientists and healthcare professionals. Dhairya Shah (AZCOM 鈥26), a member of 九色视频鈥檚 Neuroscience Club, explains how studying neuroscience in high school can be beneficial. 鈥淟earning neuroscience in high school benefits students by enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific literacy while preparing them for STEM careers in medicine, psychology, and technology,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t improves mental health awareness, teaches effective learning and memory techniques, and fosters ethical and social awareness by exploring topics like neurodiversity and brain enhancement.
鈥淣euroscience also strengthens communication and collaboration skills, connects science to everyday life by explaining behavior and emotions, and inspires innovation in fields like AI and brain-computer interfaces,鈥 continues Dhairya. 鈥淥verall, it empowers students with knowledge that enhances their education, well-being, and future opportunities.鈥
The Arizona Regional Brain Bee is funded as a result of generous financial support from BHHS Legacy Foundation, an Arizona charitable organization whose philanthropic mission is to enhance the quality of life and health of those it serves.
