Burlington Central School Student Wins Canada’s 2026 National Brain Bee Championship
Grade 10 Burlington Central School student, Josephine Ankomah, was recently crowned the Canadian National Brain Bee Champion, earning the opportunity to represent Canada at the International Brain Bee World Championship this November after competing against more than 800 competitors. She will also complete a neuroscience laboratory internship at McMaster University this summer.
The Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition that challenges high school students to deepen their understanding of the brain and nervous system. Josephine first discovered the competition while searching for neuroscience opportunities in Grade 6.
“I was immediately interested, but I had to wait until Grade 9 to compete because the Brain Bee is only open to high school students,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed science competitions, and what makes the Brain Bee special is that it gives students the opportunity to explore neuroscience long before they encounter it in post-secondary studies.”
Josephine competed in the Hamilton Regional Brain Bee at McMaster University in both 2025 and 2026. After placing second in her first year, she returned determined to challenge herself once again.
“The experience was incredible,” she said. “I enjoyed applying my neuroscience knowledge to challenging questions, participating in activities like a sheep brain dissection and learning from professors, graduate researchers, and undergraduate students. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with other students who share the same interests.”
Her success at the regional competition led her to the national stage, where she was recognized as one of Canada’s top three finalists and invited to attend the Canadian Association for Neuroscience conference in Montreal. There, she participated in the Final Showdown, which determined the national champion.
“Attending the conference was unlike anything I had ever experienced,” Josephine said. “I was able to visit research posters, speak directly with researchers and learn about new technologies. It made me even more excited about pursuing neuroscience in the future.”
Josephine’s passion for science extends beyond neuroscience. Before competing in the Brain Bee, she participated in the Junior Science Olympiad of Canada and represented Canada at the International Junior Science Olympiad in Romania in 2024 as one of the country’s top six finalists.
Her curiosity about the brain began after hearing a neuroscientist speak during a news segment when she was in Grade 6.
“The brain fascinates me because it shapes what we think, feel and do,” she said. “It helps explain both what we all have in common and what makes each of us unique. There are so many areas to explore, from biology and psychology to cognition and computation.”
This year, Josephine brought her passion back to Burlington Central School by founding the school’s Brain Bee Club. After being the only participant from her school in the competition the previous year, she wanted to create opportunities for other students to become involved.
“Building the club has been very meaningful,” she said. “As I helped other students prepare, I realized how much I enjoy not only learning science but also sharing it with others and making it more accessible.”
Josephine credits the encouragement of her family, and the supportive environment at Burlington Central School for helping her succeed.
“My family has always been there for me and supported me every step of the way,” she said. “At school, my teachers and club supervisor have encouraged me to pursue my interests and helped me balance academics, competitions and extracurricular activities.”
Josephine plans to pursue a career in neuroscience and hopes to contribute to advances in brain health and neuroscience research.
“I want to make an impact on people’s lives by inspiring them to care more about their brain health,” she said. “Whether that’s through medicine, research or a combination of both, I hope to help improve our understanding of the brain and contribute to advancements in preventing neurodegenerative diseases.”
Josephine’s impressive journey demonstrates how dedication and a passion for learning can open doors to extraordinary opportunities.
