“Can you explain neuroscience to your Grandma?”

Originally published February 2005.

Leah

Dinesh

A few neuroscience students took up the challenge!

It is generally accepted that if you can explain what you do to your grandma then you can explain it to the public. A few neuroscience students have recently taken on the challenge of communicating their research to a lay audience. Lisa Rattiner, Dinesh Raju,

Lisa

Jamie

Lizabeth Martin, and Jamie Hatcher have all received the ORDER Fellowship, a Howard Hughes Initiative designed to introduce Emory undergraduates to research that is taking place here at Emory. These fellows design and teach a freshman seminar course that emphasizes their own personal discoveries in the lab. Lisa Rattiner, who completed the fellowship last year, emphasizes, “This fellowship offers a unique challenge to novice teachers in that they must learn how to communicate their research

Lizabeth

Charlene

in an engaging and exciting way that will not only capture the attention of freshman students but also be instructive and educational.” At a different level, Leah Andersen and Charlene Cole received the year-long PRISM teaching fellowship, an integrative K-12 program designed to instill a compelling need to know in the next generation. These two brave students have learned the fine art of balancing their graduate school requirements with a large teaching load outside of Emory. More information on fellowship availabilities can be found at: http://www.biomed.emory.edu/PROGRAM_SITES/BCDB/multimedia/pdf/fellowship_info.pdf

“How do you spell Neurotransmitter?”

by Leah Anderson

Originally published September 2004.

This year’s community outreach activities were an outstanding success!

First grader’s examine a human brain

The future funding of our research is critically dependent on public support from voters, lawmakers, and philanthropists. Therefore, in conjunction with the SFN’s Brain Awareness Week, the Atlanta Chapter of the SFN (ACSFN) sponsors visits to local schools. These visits are an excellent opportunity for us to educate students, teachers and parents on the exciting and important work we do as neuroscientists. This past spring was our biggest and best outreach effort with more than 17 visits made by 30 volunteers. We reached more community members than ever. We visited elementary, middle, and high schools in 5 urban and suburban public school districts as well as a few of the nearby private schools. We participated as guest lecturers, science night exhibitors, and SCITREK volunteers. Each year, there is a wide variety of ways for neuroscientists to get out and work with the community. The feedback from these visits was overwhelmingly positive. We received very thoughtful emails of thanks from parents and teachers, as well as crayon-drawn cards of thanks from elementary students!

When comparing rodent and primate
brains, the students notice more wrinkles in the monkey brain.

Chances are, if you didn’t volunteer this year, one of your coworkers did. If you have yet to participate in any outreach activity, I encourage you to talk to one of us about our experiences. I guarantee you will hear some funny and amazing stories about the student’s enthusiasm and curiosity. The ACSFN has accumulated a database of schools, teachers and successful lesson plans for volunteers to use in setting up their visits. We have games, activities and specimens available whenever you may need them. Therefore, participating in community outreach has never been easier! If you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to volunteer for upcoming community outreach activities, contact the ACSFN outreach coordinator, Leah Anderson at lrander@emory.edu.