On March 29, 2025, the German Neuroscience Olympiad (DNO) will return to Bonn, hosted at the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar (MPINB). iBehave is proud to actively participate in this prestigious national event that brings together high school students from across Germany to explore the fascinating world of the brain.

The DNO is more than just a competition, it’s an educational initiative aimed at sparking curiosity, fostering scientific thinking, and encouraging students to pursue careers in neuroscience. As part of its mission to support science outreach and education, iBehave is contributing to this year’s DNO in several key ways:

Scientific Jury Representation
Two researchers from the iBehave network will serve as jury members at the Bonn event:

• Anneke Fuss, University of Bonn (Prof. Sandra Blaess’ Group)
• Dario Sannino, University of Bonn (Tatjana Tchumatchenko’s Lab)

Their expertise will help evaluate participants’ knowledge and creativity as they tackle challenging neuroscience questions.

Research Showcase: iBehave Poster Presentation
Uttam Kumar, PhD student in the lab of Elena Demidova (University of Bonn), will present his research on the application of Artificial Intelligence in neurology. His poster highlights how AI tools can analyze brain wave patterns to detect epileptic seizures early, potentially improving treatment outcomes and patient safety.

Interactive Learning at the NeuroExpo: iBOTS in Action
The iBOTS (the iBehave Open Technology Support Platform) team will be running a hands-on booth and coding workshop under the theme:
"Python and Neuroscience are Great Together!"

Led by Nicholas A. Del Grosso and Sangeetha Nandakumar, the iBOTS booth offers students an exciting look into the intersection of neuroscience and programming. Activities include:

• Image analysis with Napari
• Behavioral experiments using PsychoPy
• Interactive data visualization using Marimo
• Biosensor design with MicroPython & Calliope
• A video game controlled by the participant’s own ECG data
• This workshop encourages students to embrace coding early and shows how computational tools are shaping the future of brain research.

Ask Me Anything Session:
As part of the DNO Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, Nicholas A. Del Grosso, head of the iBOTS program, will join the panel to answer student questions and share insights about working in neuroscience and AI.

iBehave’s participation in DNO 2025 reflects its commitment to education, community engagement, and interdisciplinary training. Events like these offer a powerful platform to inspire future scientists and demonstrate the impact of collaborative, cross-disciplinary research.

We thank Julia Schlee for her continued support and coordination in making iBehave’s involvement in DNO a success. For more details visit MPINP webpage.

Press Contact:
Dr. Sarah Imtiaz
Scientific Coordinator of iBehave Network
E-mail: sarah.imtiaz@ukbonn.de