On July 31st, our Toronto office was buzzing with curiosity and brilliance as we welcomed our grantee Brain Canada and their collaborator, the International Brain Bee (IBB), along with the 2024 International Brain Bee World Champions. These six high school students, fresh off their big win, are part of a group of 37 national champions from around the globe who competed in this year’s virtual World Championship — the world’s premier neuroscience competition for teenagers.
The afternoon showcased what makes our partnership with Brain Canada so special. Dena Libman, the Azrieli Foundation’s Chief Strategy Officer, opened with an inspiring overview of the Foundation’s mission and our belief in funding not just the science, but the whole person. Brain Canada’s President and CEO, Viviane Poupon, shared how together we champion early career scientists because “you have not learned yet what you cannot do.” And Mira Puri, our Manager of Science Initiatives, topped it off by taking the champions deep into the wonders and challenges of brain research, connecting our focus on neurodiversity with the importance of supporting bright minds in the field.
The students came ready to impress: their questions were insightful, their comments sharp and their enthusiasm infectious. It was a perfect reminder that when we invest in partnerships like this, we’re not just funding projects; we’re helping fuel the next generation of world-class scientists. And if these champions are anything to go by, the future of neuroscience is in very good hands.
