She’s A Brain Bee

Townsend Harris High School senior Murrel Pereira will put her knowledge to the test against students from around the nation after having recently won the New York City Regional Brain Bee.
Pereira, a resident of Flushing, had been interested in participating in the Brain Bee since last year.
“I’m a science person at school,” Pereira said.
Although she has been studying the nervous system for a while, Pereira said she began studying the “Brain Facts” booklet two weeks prior to the February 13 competition. The contest consisted of questions based on the book, which is published by the Society for Neurosciences.
Through her studying, Pereira said that most interesting thing she learned was about related brain diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s. She said that she saw there is more that needs to be done to learn about such diseases and work towards finding cures for them.
Pereira was one of 35 students, who represented 21 different schools in New York City and Westchester, to participate in the regional Brain Bee. She won by correctly answering what GHB stands for, which is gamma-hydroxy-butyrate.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I can’t wait for the national one now. That one is a bit tougher.”
The prize for winning the Regional Brain Bee was $250 and a trip for two to the national competition, which is being held March 14 and 15 at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Pereira said that for the national competition, she will have to identify parts of the brain and their functions. She will also be given a patient and will be able to ask them three questions to determine what is wrong with them.
Aside from her participation in the Brain Bee, Pereira is also a member of the Science Olympiad at Townsend Harris. She has been a member of it for three years and is Vice President of the club. In fact, she said that Science Olympiad had its finals the same weekend as the New York City Regional Brain Bee and that it was difficult to have to choose which one to go to.
Last summer, Pereira participated in science research at Queens College, looking at the effect contaminants have in an aquatic environment. She specifically studied the effects such contaminants have on developmental periods and regeneration.
“I don’t remember when I haven’t been interested in science,” said Pereira, who also takes a Japanese course at Queens College.
Pereira is a volunteer at New York Hospital Queens. She spends her time there talking to patients and assisting them with anything they might need, whether it is writing something down, feeding or just going for a walk.
At Townsend Harris, Pereira will also participate in a multi-cultural dance show, where she will perform Indian dances.
Following her graduation from Townsend Harris High School, Pereira plans on going to college to major in biomedical engineering. Her ultimate goal is to go to medical school, where she wants to specialize in neurology.
“I like the brain,” Pereira said.