Are you fascinated by the human brain and eager to explore the field of neuroscience?
The Deutsche Neurowissenschaften Olympiade (DNO) is your chance to dive deep into this exciting scientific discipline and challenge yourself in ways you never imagined.
What is the DNO?
The DNO is a nationwide neuroscience competition designed specifically for high school students. Whether you’re already passionate about science or just curious about how the brain works, this competition offers you the opportunity to learn, compete, and connect with like-minded peers.
What Can You Expect?
- Engaging Topics: The competition covers advanced topics that go beyond what’s taught in the typical high school curriculum. You’ll be learning concepts often covered in the first years of university-level neuroscience programs.
- The Language of Science: The entire competition is conducted in English, helping you get comfortable with the language of science. But don’t worry—support is available if you need it, and we’ve designed the competition to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their language background.
- Opportunities Beyond Competition: The DNO isn’t just about winning. It’s a platform for you to explore your interests, meet experts in the field, and discover potential career paths in neuroscience, medicine, biology, and related sciences.
Why Should You Participate?
Participating in the DNO gives you the chance to:
- Challenge yourself with new and exciting material.
- Gain valuable experience that can inspire future academic and career choices.
- Network with peers and professionals who share your interests.
- Prepare for further opportunities, such as representing Germany in the International Brain Bee (IBB).
Preparation
Don’t worry if you don’t have any prior knowledge of neuroscience—participation in the DNO doesn’t require it! All exam questions are based on our study guide. Once you register and your teacher submits a nomination, you’ll receive a password to access the study guide in your acceptance email.
The competition is divided into four main categories:
Written Test
The Written Test consists of ~25 multiple-choice questions that cover all chapters of the study guide. You will know upfront how many correct answers are expected for each question. You have 30 minutes to answer all the questions.
Neuroanatomy
The Neuroanatomy section is more interactive. You’ll move between stations with brain models or microscope slides. You will be asked to identify specific brain regions highlighted on images and brain models or label histological slides showing stained brain sections. You can expect ~25 questions, with only 20 seconds to respond to each.
Patient Diagnosis
For the Patient Diagnosis, you’ll be diagnosing six patients. For each case, you’ll watch a one-minute video in which a patient describes their symptoms, accompanied by a brief text providing additional information. You’ll have a scratch sheet listing various clinical tests from which you can select three to reveal further information about the patient. After reviewing the video, text, and test results, you’ll write down your final diagnosis. You’ll have 5 minutes to complete each case study.
Regional Podium Session
At the Regional Podium Session a judge will read out each question, and you’ll have 30 seconds to write down your answer using a pseudonym. The judge will then review the answers and announce the pseudonyms of those who answered correctly. Partial credit may be awarded for partially correct answers, so it’s important to pay attention to details like spelling, even when using scientific abbreviations, as these can impact your score.
At the National Podium Session, only the top 10 students participate get called to the Podium, while the rest of the students form the audience. In this round, a panel of four judges reads out the questions, and you’ll again have 30 seconds to write down your answer. On a signal, all participants reveal their answers simultaneously, and the panel evaluates them. This session follows a knockout system, where students are eliminated after giving two incorrect answers. However, the last student standing does not automatically win the competition—their points from the Podium Session are combined with scores from the other categories to determine the overall winner. This structure ensures that the Podium Session is both challenging and fair, testing not just your knowledge but your ability to perform under pressure.
Registration
The regional competitions will all take place on 29 March 2025, while the national qualifier will be held in Frankfurt on 14 June 2025.
Registration Period for 2025:
REGISTER NOW!
Please click on the link below and register according to your state:
- Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein
- Bremen, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland
- Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Thüringen
Instructions for Registration for the DNO 2025:
Interested students must apply via the link on our student page in the appropriate region and fill in all required fields marked with an asterisk.
A teacher of the student must nominate the student under our „Teacher“ section with a brief text (2 to 5 sentences). For this, the teacher will need the email address provided by the student.
Only after both the student’s registration and the teacher’s nomination have been submitted will an email be sent confirming the registration and providing a password for the Study Guide.
Important Information
Other Countries: If you are a high school student from a neighboring country without a designated Neuroscience Olympiad, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, or Denmark, you are welcome to participate in the DNO competition. While you can fully take part in the event and gain valuable experience, please note that you will be excluded from the Top 10 podium discussion and won‘t be eligible to represent Germany in the International Brain Bee (IBB). If you have any further questions or need more information, please contact our outreach team.
Nomination: To participate in the DNO competition, you must be nominated by a teacher. Applications without a teacher’s nomination will not be accepted. We recommend reaching out to a teacher who is familiar with your interest in neuroscience or science in general and asking them to provide a brief recommendation on your behalf. This nomination is a crucial part of the registration process, so please make sure to secure it before submitting your application.
Age Restrictions: The DNO does not impose strict age limits; all high school students with an interest in neuroscience are welcome to participate. However, if you are 19 or older, or if you turn 20 before the International Brain Bee competition, you may still participate in the national event, but we will include another student from your location to represent the region. Additionally, while you can fully participate in the event, you will be excluded from the Top 10 podium discussion and won‘t be eligible to represent Germany in the IBB. Despite this, you will still gain the full experience of the DNO and we encourage everyone interested to join us.
Frequently Asked Questions
The day of the DNO is carefully scheduled to include all competition sections as well as breaks. Typically, the day starts with registration in the morning, followed by the different competition rounds: Written Test, Neuroanatomy, Patient Diagnosis, and Podium Session. In between competitions, you can participate in fun science booths and engage with scientists from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Exact times may vary depending on the location, but you can expect the event to run from around 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Detailed schedules will be provided closer to the event date.
Family and friends are welcome to join as guests. They can participate in parts of the day, such as watching the Podium Session and awards ceremony. However, some parts of the competition, like the Written Test and Patient Diagnosis, are closed to guests.
No prior knowledge of neurobiology is required to participate in the DNO. All the necessary material is covered in our study guide, which you will receive after registering and securing a teacher’s nomination. While it’s helpful if you have a general interest in science, you don’t need to have taken neurobiology in school to do well in the competition.
There is no limit on the number of students who can participate from the same school. We recommend coordinating with your school to ensure that all interested students are able to register and participate smoothly. One teacher can nominate more than one student.
While the DNO itself is not formally recognized as part of medical studies, participating can significantly enhance your knowledge and experience in neuroscience. It can also be a valuable addition to your academic portfolio when applying for programs in medicine, biology, or related fields.
To ensure that financial constraints do not prevent students from participating in the DNO event, travel grants are available upon request, especially for students facing financial hardship. Full reimbursement is available for students from households receiving social assistance under Social Code XII or from low-income families, including those receiving housing or child benefits. Generally, travel costs are reimbursed at €1 per 10 km, though full reimbursement may be granted in documented hardship cases, with all claims requiring valid receipts. Carpooling is encouraged, with reimbursement provided to only one student in each carpool group. Travel costs for parents or siblings cannot be reimbursed, but accompanying teachers may apply for reimbursement under the same conditions as students. Please notify us before the event if you wish to request a travel grant.
The DNO is primarily aimed at high school students grade 10 and up, but there is no rule against students from younger grades who may want to participate. Any student with a passion for science and the brain is encouraged to participate.
Preparation time varies depending on your familiarity with the material, but we recommend starting as soon as your registration is complete. Dedicating regular study sessions each week to review the study guide and practice with sample questions will help ensure you are well-prepared.
The password for accessing the preparation materials will be provided in your acceptance email after you register and your teacher submits a nomination. This ensures that all participants have equal access to the resources needed to prepare for the competition.
Contact
If you have any questions about the competition, registration process, or need more information, feel free to reach out to us:
Email: outreach@mail.dno-ev.de
Our head of Outreach, Lisa, and her team are always ready to assist you with any needs you might have.
Connect with Us on Social Media
Stay updated with the latest news, tips, and announcements by following us on social media:
- Facebook: @deutscheneurowissenschaftenolympiade
- Instagram: @neuroscience_olympiad
- X: @neuroolympiade
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We’re excited to have you as part of the DNO community and look forward to helping you explore the world of neuroscience. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re always happy to hear from you!