Every March, members of the Tulane neuroscience community join neuroscientists from around the country to celebrate Brain Awareness Week (BAW). The National Society for Neuroscience website describes BAW as: “an inspirational global campaign that unites those who share an interest in elevating public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain and nervous system research.” During previous BAWs, Tulane Neuroscience members have helped spread the word about neuroscience by hosting a series of events such as informational sessions for Tulane students about the neuroscience major, graduate school, and careers in neuroscience; held fun events like movie night, trivia night, free IQ testing, and free food (smoothies, desserts, pizza, pasta, etc. ); sponsored seminars by visiting neuroscientists; and worked with other New Orleans neuroscientists to bring BAW to the New Orleans Children’s Museum. Some of these outreach activities are carried out at times other than during BAW, as Tulane neuroscientists go to the local schools to talk about neuroscience, participate in the Sally Ride Science Festival, bring students to campus during week long sessions, and lead tours of the neuroscience teaching laboratory to visiting high school science classes and Tulane visitors and alumni.
"Your Sensational Brain"
March 21, 2015
This event included 5-to-12-year-olds at the Children's Resource Center (Children Library) at 913 Napoleon Ave. Through a series of interactive activities, a group of volunteer faculty and students from the Neuroscience Programs at the LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane University taught the children interesting facts about the brain. Activities included: 1) Show and tell of various fixed brains; 2) Show and tell of brain and neuron models; 3) Demonstration with brain slices and stained neurons under a microscope; 4) Demonstration of the knee-jerk reflex, with children "behaving like neurons"; 5) Making models of brains with play-doh.
"Concussion and Brain Injury Awareness"
March 23, 2015
Held at the Keller Library on 4300 S, Broad Street, this event targeted student-athletes in grades 4-12, parents and coaches. Presenters from the Sports Legacy Institute Community Educators (SLICE) program at Tulane University (including undergraduate, graduate, and medical students) used discussion, video, and interactive games to achieve the following learning objectives: 1.) What is a concussion? 2.) Why should you care about concussions? 3.) What can you do about concussions?
