Battle of the Brains Showcases Innovation, Curiosity, and Big Ideas

The energy was unmistakable at Houston High School on Saturday morning as students from across GMSD arrived with poster boards, prototypes, data sets and months of work. The Germantown Education Commission’s annual Battle of the Brains returned on November 15, drawing more than 50 teams eager to test their STEM skills in front of a panel of university professors.

Created in 2009, Battle of the Brains is designed to spark interest and celebrate achievement in science, technology, engineering and math. Students present their methodology and findings to judges with expertise in their topic, making the experience feel both academic and exciting. It is a rare chance for young researchers to step into the role of scientist for a day.

The event has long been supported by Houston High School teacher Martha Gunn Poole, who has volunteered with the competition since its creation. Her behind the scenes work each year helps ensure the day runs smoothly for students, judges and families.

Winners take home significant cash prizes. Each student on the first place team receives 300 dollars, along with the honor of having their names engraved on the coveted Einstein Trophy, donated by the Dr. Dino Palazzolo family.

Event organizer Dr. Heather Fisher said the turnout was one of the strongest in recent years. She added that several projects caught the attention of the City of Germantown, especially those focused on transportation and community health.

Below are the official results for 2025.

Red Group Winners

First Place: Health, Education and Prevention Aid (H.E.P.A.)
 Emma Evans, Callie Fischer and Carter Kidd

Second Place: Transportation by Bus in Germantown
 Sophia Rus, Muslima Dadanova and Sanjukta Nayani

Third Place: The Chemistry of Clean
 Addelyn Simpson, Savalyn Gilbert, Kyle Dai and Anna Freeman

Blue Group Winners

First Place: Predictions of Infections After Surgery
 R’Nya Smith, Kaycey Pham, Jacob Phelps and Ellie Jee

Second Place: Vitameter
 Aarav Yaligar, Pranav Bhat, Allen Cheny and Shawn Hamm

Third Place: Neurodiversity Spectrum
 Rosalie Hagen, Laila Brown and Yihan Li

This year’s top teams demonstrated impressive command of the research process. Both first place groups moved through each stage with clarity and creativity. Their work could help inspire future studies in the medical field.

The H.E.P.A. project focused on ways communities can better prevent illness and reduce accidents before they occur. The team proposed several community minded strategies that combined education, public awareness and smart habits.

The top Blue Group project, Predictions of Infections After Surgery, explored how data and modeling might help medical professionals better anticipate complications. The team’s work offered valuable ideas for improving patient outcomes.

The second place Transportation by Bus project also made waves. Students designed a model system showing how a thoughtful city bus route could help reduce environmental impact and create a practical option for young teens in Germantown who do not yet drive.

Following the event, several teams may be invited to meet with city commissioners to discuss their ideas in more detail.

The Battle of the Brains continues to grow each year, and this round showed what happens when students are given the space to think boldly, experiment freely and solve the kinds of problems that matter in real life. It was a strong showing and a proud day for GMSD.