Kufa: The “Iraqi National Neuroscience Olympiad” commenced at the University of Kufa’s College of Medicine, attended by University President Alaa Al-Mawla and the deans of the Colleges of Medicine and Engineering. The competition features eighty high school students from the governorates of Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, Babylon, Wasit, and Maysan.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, University media officer Ammar Al-Kuwaiti highlighted that this event marks Iraq’s first national competition dedicated to neuroscience. Officially affiliated with the International Brain Bee competition, the Olympiad is organized by a volunteer student team in collaboration with the university’s College of Medicine.

Ammar Al-Kuwaiti noted that the competition is designed to foster students’ interest in neuroscience, medical sciences, and scientific research from an early age. It aims to introduce them to the scientific and professional paths related to the field, as well as to discover and encourage young scientific talents to partake in scientific competitions.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Zubaidi, Dean of the College of Medicine, elaborated on the competition’s structure, which involves multiple stages and culminates in the selection of the Iraqi national champion. This champion will qualify to participate in the World Neuroscience Olympiad, which includes approximately 50 countries. Dr. Al-Zubaidi expressed hope that Iraq will become one of the countries sponsoring the competition in the future.