WHAT: Social Neuroscience Fair at the Society for Social Neuroscience (S4SN) conference!

WHERE: Museum of Science & Industry Chicago, 5700 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637

WHEN: Thursday, October 17, 2019, 1:30 – 4:00pm (we’ll arrive at ~11:00am!)
MEET EARLIER FOR BREAKFAST @ 8:30am HERE: Plein Air Cafe & Eatery

This fall we’ll join the Society for Social Neuroscience to celebrate their ten year anniversary..!

“The Society for Social Neuroscience integrates human and animal research to explore the neural basis of social cognition; how individuals of these many species interact, form bonds or complex groups; how our brains work, and why, sometimes, they don’t…”

On Thursday, October 17 from 1:30 – 4:00pm, NW Noggin will participate in the first Social Neuroscience Fair along with the University of Chicago, and discuss STEAM outreach, examine brains, make cerebral art, consider neuroscience questions and introduce informed graduate and undergraduate volunteers to 500+ Chicago Public School students at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry..!

From 1:30 – 4:30pm we’ll join graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Chicago at multiple STEAM stations in the museum, including…

1. Pipe cleaner neurons
   You have billions of brain cells (neurons) in your head, growing and changing and connecting with each other. Create your own neurons out of pipe cleaners!
   Materials: pipe cleaners (12″ minimum length, multiple colors, both standard and sparkly, at least 20 pipe cleaners/brain cell)
   DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE Pipe Cleaner Neurons
   Noggin Lead: Denesa Lockwood, OHSU
2. Gel and collagraph neuron prints
   These networks of linked brain cells resemble forms found elsewhere in nature. Craft your own neurons using leaves, grasses and other natural materials…
   Materials: gelatin slabs (or Gelli plates, at least 10), Block printing ink (multiple colors, water soluble is best), printing paper (printmaking paper works best, but drawing paper will do), plant material (gathered from the city is perfect  –  smaller plants like weeds work best), old file folders (lots of them!), brayers (10 of these), scissors (blunt)
   DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE Neuron Gelatin Prints
   Noggin Lead: Madi-Cho Richmond, PSU
3. Brain map!
   Did you know that different parts of your brain do different things? Discover and draw how your various brain lobes and structures let you see, hear, feel, move and think!
   Materials: Big rolls of craft paper, in multiple colors (at least 6 – most schools have these, and maybe the museum does too), masking tape, lots of colorful pens, crayons and markers
   DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE Brain Map
   Noggin Lead: Sai Kiersarsky, PSU
4. Clay brains
   What does your brain look like? What are some of its parts? Craft your own noggin out of clay!
   Materials: Air dry clay (lots)
   Noggin Lead: Cam Howard, PSU
5. Real brain examination
   Hold a real human brain! Examine brain structure up close, and ask questions!
   Materials: BRAINS (human, if possible; plus additional animal brains), GLOVES (nitrile, many boxes), dissection trays (for brain display), lined garbage can (for glove disposal)
   Noggin Lead: Mikah Brandes, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
6. Brain hacking is electric!
   Brain cells carry information  –  using electricity! Want to make someone move their arm by recording and sharing (electrically) the movement of your own?
   Materials: Human to Human Interface (ideally two), large muscle electrodes (two 100-packs from Backyard Brains), muscle electrode cables (three extra, as they will break with that many kids!), 9V batteries (lots!)
   Noggin Lead: Aaron Eisen, NUNM
7. Ask a neuroscientist!
   We LOVE questions! What are you curious about? What do you already know about brains? What would you like to know..?
   Noggin Lead: Anita Randolph, OHSU
   

LEARN MORE: STEAM Art Project resources

COMPLETE OUTREACH SCHEDULE: Noggins in Chicago!

Thursday, October 17
8:30am – 10:00am: Breakfast with University of Chicago Neuroscience
11:00am – 1:30pm: Set up at Chicago Museum of Science & Industry
1:30pm – 4:00pm: Social Neuroscience Fair!
5:30pm – 6:45pm: Fireside Chat w/Dr. Vivek Murthy

Friday, October 18
1:00pm – 4:00pm: Outreach at the International Museum of Surgical Science
Society for Neuroscience opening night

Saturday, October 19
ALL DAY: SfN Conference attendance
12:00pm: SfN Theme J poster goes up
2:00pm – 2:30pm: SfN Brain Awareness Campaign Event poster set up
2:30pm – 4:00pm: SfN Brain Awareness Campaign Event!

Sunday, October 20
ALL DAY: SfN Conference attendance
9:00am – 10:00am: SfN Poster presentation: Theme J

Monday, October 21
9:30am – 3:00pm: Outreach to William Brown STEM Elementary School!
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Oregon Neuroscience Reception

Tuesday, October 22
Conference attendance; Travel home to Portland, Oregon

LEARN MORE AT THE LINK…

Tennis Balls & Brains

Here are some of our outreach participants, funded by the Portland Alcohol Research Center at OHSU, Portland State University, and NW Noggin…

Noggin Participants
1. Bill Griesar, Ph.D., NW Noggin, Portland State University, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, M.F.A., NW Noggin, Portland State University
3. Aaron Manakai Eisen, PSU/NUNM
4. Mikah Brandes, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
5. Anita Randolph, OHSU
6. Madison Elizabeth Cho-Richmond, PSU
7. Maria D Galvan-Bravo, PSU
8. Camden Mikaela Grant-Howard, PSU
9. Albert Kiersarsky, PSU
10. Denesa Lockwood, OHSU