Contact: Jacquelyn Spruce
Phone: (210) 567-0414
E-mail: sprucej@uthscsa.edu

Baylor students won the Brain Bowl for the fifth time.
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Although students from UT Austin and UTSA put up a tough battle, Baylor University students were the winners of the seventh Brain Bowl, which took place at the Health Science Center last week. This was the Baylor’s fifth victory at the Brain Bowl.

The Brain Bowl is the “Jeopardy!” of the neurosciences, and is sponsored by the Center for Biomedical Neuroscience (CBN). About 100 faculty, staff and students flooded the lecture hall to witness the exciting contest.

“UT Austin and UTSA kept pace during the first two rounds, but Baylor pulled ahead in the third to win the trophy,” said David Morilak, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology. “They were all very impressive this year, and all three teams came ready to play. The competition is very intense and these students stayed extremely focused.”

Teams of four undergraduate students from each school participate in the game. The Brain Bowl consists of three lightning rounds, then a final round that requires teamwork to come up with an answer to the “Challenge Question.” The students are all interested in pursuing careers in neuroscience, and are introduced to the audience between rounds.

Dr. Morilak initiated the Brain Bowl in 1998.

“I get to know the students, their hobbies and future plans before they participate,” Dr. Morilak said. “So when the players are introduced to the audience, we get to have a little fun with them at that time.” The students also get a chance to mingle with each other and neuroscientists from the Health Science Center at a reception following the Brain Bowl.

Dr. Morilak began the Brain Bowl at the Health Science Center in 1998, as part of the activities of the local neuroscience community for the National Brain Awareness Week campaign. Various universities from across Texas participate in the game each year.

The CBN’s primary mission is to enhance neuroscience at the Health Science Center by bringing together research and teaching activities related to the discipline.