NW NOGGIN: Neuroscience outreach group (growing in networks)

SfN Oregon/SWWA Chapter Meeting **CANCELED
2020-04-17 09:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | McMenamin’s Edgefield, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale, OR, 97060, United States
WHAT: Society for Neuroscience Oregon/SW Washington Chapter Meeting
Canceled due to coronavirus concerns
WHERE: McMenamin’s Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale, OR 97060
WHEN: Friday, April 17 (event goes through Saturday, April 18)

Society for Neuroscience Oregon/SW Washington Chapter
The Oregon/Southwest Washington Chapter is the local group affiliated with the Society for Neuroscience. Our goal is to be a networking resource for neuroscience students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty throughout the region. Our annual meeting in the spring brings together scientists to share projects, network with elected officials and government entities, and engage with colleagues from across the state.
April 17-18, 2020
McMenamin’s Edgefield Winery and Hotel
2126 SW Halsey Street, Troutdale, OR
The deadline to register and to submit abstracts is April 10, 2020. A block of rooms is held under “OHSU Brain Institute” at McMenamin’s Edgefield. Please call the front desk (503) 669-8610 to make your reservation. Rooms will be released on March 2.
Mini-symposium of the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis
Keynote: The brain-gut microbiome axis: challenges in translation
Emeran Mayer, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Psychiatry, UCLA Health
The gut-brain axis: the example of multiple sclerosis
Sergio Baranzini, Ph.D., Professor of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
Emerging roles of gut microbiome in autism
Maude David, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Oregon State University
Microbial modulation of zebrafish behavior and brain development
Judith Eisen, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, University of Oregon
Environmental challenges, the gut microbiome, and behavioral and cognitive measures in mouse models
Jacob Raber, Ph.D., Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, OHSU
Insights into the enteric nervous system: perspectives from a gut stem cell biologist
Annie Zemper, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Oregon

NW NOGGIN ABSTRACT
NW Noggin: Axons & Arpilleras – Addressing trauma and supporting community across disciplines and national boundaries
GRIESAR, W.S.* ** *** ****, LEAKE, J.* ** ***
No happiness or pain, no more forgetting”
― Gabriela Mistral
Science needs investment and diverse perspectives. Integrating arts in STEM (STEAM) encourages more people to get involved.
Nonprofit NW Noggin (nwnoggin.org) organizes undergraduates and graduates to collaborate, build community networks and inspire people about neuroscience and art. Volunteers benefit from work across disciplines and institutions, serve as “near peer” role models, gain skill explaining research, and think creatively about careers. We’ve met over 40,000 academic priority K-12 students, homeless youth, incarcerated youth and members of the public since 2012!

Extreme inequality defines the United States, with devastating brain, health and social consequences, as more people struggle to access food, water, education, public transit, healthcare and housing. Concentrated wealth isolates those with extravagant resources from the broader community. Isolation is worsened by degrading rhetoric from political leaders and pundits who protect privileges, often by dehumanizing others.
Inequality can also lead to the violation of human rights, and violence.

Valparaíso, Chile, home to both a long history of neuroscience research and astonishing art traditions, is currently targeted by a repressive and authoritarian government, whose leader, billionaire Sebastian Piñera, has declared “war” (guerra) on those protesting injustice.
Noggin partnered with Chilean artist/educator Cecilia Araneda to teach how the art of “arpilleras,” the sewing of embroidery and patchwork to depict aspects of life, has helped many express traumatic experiences and contribute to the memory of significant national violations of human rights.

We participated in a public radio interview and displayed arpilleras and human brains at Street 14 Café during an “Art Walk” in Astoria, Oregon, and discussed neuroscience research on stress, trauma, memory, dehumanized perception, resilience and recovery.

We then presented and crafted our own arpilleras at p:ear, a critical community center for support of Portland Oregon youth who lack access to safe, stable housing, while answering questions about behavior and the brain. NW Noggin is p:ear’s Community Partner awardee in 2020.

Building excitement and awareness of discoveries, educational options and careers through arts-integrated outreach across institutional, international and generational lines trains new scientists to collaborate, engages more communities, and increases awareness and support for investment in brain research and the arts.
* Department of Psychology, Portland State University; ** NW Noggin (nwnoggin.org); *** Department of University Studies, Portland State University; **** Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, OHSU
Sewing Memories, & Brains

PSU Neuro Club: Showcase Symposium ONLINE
2020-04-30 18:30 - 20:00 | OR

Brains to Benson! **POSTPONED
2020-05-07 08:30 - 12:00 | Benson High School, 546 NE 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97232, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit with Health Sciences students at Benson High School
**POSTPONED due to COVID-19; new date to come!
WHERE: Benson High School, 546 NE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97232 (Band Room)
WHEN: Thursday, May 7, 8:30am – noon
Contact: Lesley Keith, Health Sciences CTE Instructor, Benson High School

Benson is a 100+ year old polytechnic high school in Portland Public Schools. From their website: “Within an environment that fosters diversity, Benson’s mission is to integrate hands-on career technical education and core academics today for the innovations of tomorrow.”
From PPS:“Benson Polytechnic High School is Portland, Oregon’s premier four-year career-technical education focus high school, building on a history that spans nearly 100 years. Benson Polytechnic High School offers the academic rigor and the practical training that prepares students for college and the highly skilled, highly paid 21st-century work force.”
Our volunteers will answer questions, discuss neuroscience research and make brain-related art with about 60 students in the Health Sciences track.

Benson High School students printed our t-shirts for 2016 outreach in Washington DC!
LEARN MORE: Brains in DC: Inspired Teaching at Turner and ITS
Come join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu, aaeisen@pdx.edu 🙂
COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Mark Rutledge-Gorman, OHSU Portland Alcohol Research Center (PARC)
4. Kass Fitzgerald, PSU

Noggin @ Boys & Girls! **POSTPONED**
2020-05-13 15:30 - 18:00 | Blazers Boys & Girls Club, 5250 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR, 97211, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit with Blazers Boys & Girls Club
**POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS**
WHERE: Blazers Boys & Girls Club, 5250 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97211
WHEN: Wednesday, May 13, 4:00pm – 6:00pm (arrive 3:30pm for set up :))
CONTACT: Julia Dancis, M.S, Doctoral Candidate, Applied Developmental & Community Psychology, Portland State University

We’re excited to visit Blazers Boys & Girls! “Boys & Girls Clubs are safe, positive places for kids to enjoy fun and engaging programs at an affordable price. Clubs provide enrichment programs to youth while empowering them with a sense of belonging and security.”
LEARN MORE: Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area
3:30 -4pm: set up (including brain map project)
4-4:45 pm: 1st – 6th graders
5-5:45 pm: 7th – 12th graders

From Julia: “Before NW Noggins visits, the kids will write their questions about the brain on sticky notes. The activities will begin by answering those questions and learning from kids what they already know about the brain. Next, they will have the opportunity to directly interact with human and non-human animal brains. The youth will then make neurons out of pipe cleaners, whereas the teens will make gel prints. Both may contribute to the big brain map on the floor…”
LEARN MORE: Making a Pipe Cleaner Neuron
LEARN MORE: Neuron Gelatin Prints
LEARN MORE: Brain Map Project
Come join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu, aaeisen@pdx.edu 🙂
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Kass Fitzgerald, PSU

Noggin ONLINE @ PPS Creative Science!
2020-05-14 10:00 - 10:45 | OR
WHAT: Noggin Online with 6th – 8th graders in Portland Public Schools!
We did it! Learn more at the link.
Pandemic connections

WHERE: Google Hangout for Creative Science, Portland Public Schools
WHEN: Thursday, May 14 (& 21, 28), 10:00am – 10:45am
CONTACT: Brandan McClain, 6-8th grade Language Arts/Social Studies

Get your questions ready! NW Noggin will meet with curious 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Creative Science School, in Portland Public Schools, on three consecutive Thursdays.

We’ll have brains (onscreen), art project ideas for home, and undergraduates and graduate students studying neuroscience!

We’ll also make brain cells (both neurons and glia) using any materials we have at hand 🙂

The Portland Alcohol Research Center (PARC) @ OHSU is providing art supplies, and the PDX 3D printing Lab printed full-size human brains to offer teachers in Portland Public Schools!

LEARN MORE: How to 3D Print a Brain
LEARN MORE: NW Noggin & PDX3DP Lab: 3D Printing Brain Models for Students in Oregon

Check out these questions from PPS students!
How does the brain react to trauma?
What in our brain makes us bored?
How does our brain know what’s bad for us besides using common sense?
What happens when the fusiform gyrus is damaged?
Is synaesthesia linked to a certain part of the brain?
Where in the brain are memories kept?
How does the brain remember taste? Like when you eat something, how does your brain remember which taste it is?
How do we remember sound?
Why do we sleep and dream?
How does the brain react to addictions?
How much memory does your brain have? “I’ll forget where my phone is, but then I’ll remember some random crap from when I was 6, which isn’t fair because I don’t care about when I was 6.”
Why do some people agree on the same things but disagree on other things?
Is it possible that your brain may interpret colors differently than other people?
What are dreams and why to we have them?
Why are there so many different ways that people cope?
How come one person could like one type of something and not the other type of it?
At what age are our brains fully developed?
Do human brains work like animal brains?
Is tv really bad for your brain? If so, why?
Why do we store lots of memories in our brains?
Why do people like certain music, and what does it say about their personality?
How do dreams work and why are there weird dreams and dreams that make zero sense?

COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, PSU, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, PSU
3. Lidia Echeverria-Garcia
4. Kassidy Fitzgerald, PSU
5. Sydney Duran, PSU
6. Heather Hamilton, OHSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
7. Isabella Maranghi, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
8. Arielle Isakharov, OHSU
9. Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
10. Annabelle Winking, PSU
11. Michael Deveney, PSU
12. Aaron Eisen, NUNM
We’ve visited Creative Science LIVE in the past. Learn more at the links…
“You get me!” @ Creative Science

Creativity and Science

NW Noggin @ North Clackamas Brain Fair! **CANCELED**
2020-05-16 10:00 - 14:00 | Milwaukie Elks Lodge, 13121 SE McLouglin Blvd, Milwaukie, OR, 97222, United States
WHAT: NW Noggin @ North Clackamas Brain Safety Fair!
**CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS**
WHERE: Milwaukie Elks Lodge, 13121 SE McLouglin Blvd, Milwaukie, OR 97222
WHEN: Saturday, May 16th, 10:00am – 2:00pm
CONTACT: Laura Kozell, OHSU

How is your brain changing? How can you protect your brain? Come join us for a fun day of examining brains and making art!
This is a free community event
From the organizers: “Demonstrations about sensory systems, what the brain does, developmental biology, species differences in brain structure and function, effects of disease, damage or drugs on the brain. Tables for organizations that volunteer in the community teaching about brains and science, brain arts and crafts.”
Come join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu and aaeisen@pdx.edu.
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Denesa Lockwood, OHSU
2. Kass Fitzgerald, PSU

Noggin ONLINE @ PPS Creative Science!
2020-05-21 09:30 - 10:45 | OR
WHAT: Noggin Online with 6th – 8th graders in Portland Public Schools!
We did it!! GREAT QUESTIONS!

WHERE: Google Hangout for Creative Science, Portland Public Schools
WHEN: Thursday, May 21 (& 14, 28), 9:45am – 10:45am; Meet first @ 9:30am
CONTACT: Brandan McClain, 6-8th grade Language Arts/Social Studies; Matt Feitelberg, Mid-Level Humanities Teacher, Creative Science School

Get your questions ready! NW Noggin plans to meet again with curious 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Creative Science School, in Portland Public Schools. We’ll have more real brains (onscreen), art project ideas for home, and undergraduates and graduate students studying neuroscience!

The Portland Alcohol Research Center (PARC) @ OHSU is providing art supplies, and the PDX 3D printing Lab printed full-size human brains to offer teachers in Portland Public Schools!

LEARN MORE: How to 3D Print a Brain
Student Questions
1. Does the brain store long-term and short-term memories in different parts of the brain? -Jack
2. Why do we feel stuff? -Allen
3. The way humans act is so different from the ways other animals act. What actually makes our brains different? -Lillian
4. How does your amygdala actually TELL you to fight or flee? What is it actually doing? -Lucy
5. How do we think?
6. Are there differences in the way our brains behave and learn in person vs online? -Matt

LEARN MORE: Face-to-face or face-to-screen? Undergraduates’ opinions and test performance in classroom vs. online learning

See what we did last week!
Pandemic connections

Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu!

COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, PSU, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, PSU
3. Danny Gray, PSU
4. Kassidy Fitzgerald, PSU
5. Sydney Duran, PSU
6. Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
7. Annabelle Winking, PSU
8. Andrea Rano, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
9. Aaron Eisen, NUNM
10. Heather Hamilton, OHSU
11. Harper Thomas, PSU
12. Arielle Isakharov, OHSU

We’ve visited Creative Science LIVE in the past. Learn more at the links…
“You get me!” @ Creative Science

Creativity and Science

NW Noggin + Council for the Homeless **POSTPONED!
2020-05-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Bridgeview Resource Center, 505 Omaha Way, Vancouver, OR, 98661, United States
WHAT: NW Noggin @ Council for the Homeless Best Practices event
**POSTPONED due to COVID-19. Stay tuned for new developments…
WHERE: Bridgeview Resource Center, 505 Omaha Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
WHEN: Thursday, May 21, 5:30 – 7:00pm
Council for the Homeless is a non-profit organization in Clark County, Washington whose mission is to provide community leadership, compelling advocacy, and practical solutions to prevent and end homelessness.

LEARN MORE: Council for the Homeless
We are excited to join organizer Sarah Fletcher in discussing trauma, including who it impacts and how it affects our brains. Learn more about trauma, homelessness and resilience at the link.

LEARN MORE: Noggin @ P:ear
Come join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu and aaeisen@pdx.edu.
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU

Noggin @ OHSU Brain Awareness lecture: Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D. **CANCELED
2020-05-27 17:30 - 21:00 | Newmark Theater, Portland, OR
Machines and the Mind: Advances in brain-computer interface

Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery
Massachusetts General Hospital
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
All Brain Awareness Lectures take place at:
The Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland
and begin at 7:00 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: NW Noggin volunteers expected for set up at 5:30pm!

The latest advancements in brain-computer interface systems are shared by Dr. Leigh Hochberg, director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery at Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of Engineering at Brown University, and Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology. Dr. Hochberg’s pioneering BrainGate clinical trials demonstrate how these amazing technologies could provide communication and mobility for people with paralysis. With these ground-breaking tools, Dr. Hochberg presents a path to unlocking minds that have been, up until now, trapped by their condition.

Thanks to the OHSU Brain Institute, NW Noggin has 12 complimentary tickets to this event! We’ll staff a table loaded with brains and art before and after the show.
Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu and aaeisen@pdx.edu
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
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PSU Neuro Club: Virtual TED Talks!
2020-05-27 18:30 - 20:00 | OR

Noggins in North Kitsap! **POSTPONED!
2020-05-28 - 2020-05-30 | North Kitsap High School, 1780 NE Hostmark Street, Poulsbo, WA, 98370, United States
WHAT: Noggin visit to Poulsbo, WA (“The Viking City“)
**POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19: More details to come
WHERE: North Kitsap High School, 1780 NE Hostmark St, Poulsbo, WA 98370 AND Poulsbo Elementary School, 18531 Noll Rd NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370

WHEN: Thursday, May 28 – Saturday, May 30
Contact: Nick Elmquist, Social Studies Teacher, North Kitsap High School

We’re excited to meet high school and elementary school students on Washington State’s Kitsap Peninsula, “the natural side of Puget Sound.” Nick Elmquist at North Kitsap High School secured a grant to bring ELEVEN Noggin volunteers – along with extra brains and art projects – north to Poulsbo!

Thank you Nick & North Kitsap!!
THURSDAY, MAY 28
Travel to Poulsbo, WA (a.k.a. “Little Norway”)
Train/bus/ferry an option (contact for details)
Dinner with teachers!
FRIDAY, MAY 29
8:00am – 3:00pm: Outreach visits to North Kitsap High School and Poulsbo Elementary School
Details TBD
SATURDAY, MAY 30
Travel home to Portland area
COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Michael Deveney, PSU
4. Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin (just got into UW med school!!!)
5. Kassidy Fitzgerald, PSU
6. Lidia Echeverria-Garcia, PSU
7. Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
8. Aaron Eisen, NUNM/NW Noggin
9. Cam Howard, PSU
10. Kanani Miyamoto, NW Noggin/PCC
11. Aliese Poole, PSU

Noggin ONLINE @ PPS Creative Science!
2020-05-28 09:30 - 10:45 | OR
WHAT: Noggin Online with 6th – 8th graders in Portland Public Schools!
We did it!! GREAT conversations!!

“That was an amazing experience! Thank you so much for all of the time that has gone into facilitating these sessions. Please pass on my gratitude to everyone that participated.” -Leslie Skyback, teacher @ Portland Public Schools

Reconnecting our brains in a pandemic: one cell at a time!

FOUND OBJECT NEURONS: #showusyourbraincell

WHERE: Google Hangout for Creative Science, Portland Public Schools
WHEN: Thursday, May 28 (& 14, 21), 9:30am – 10:45am (9:30am for set-up)
CONTACT: Brandan McClain, 6-8th grade Language Arts/Social Studies; Leslie Skybak, Mid-Level Humanities Teacher, Creative Science School

Check out these questions!!

We’ll meet again with curious 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Creative Science, in Portland Public Schools. We’ll have more real brains (onscreen), art project ideas for home, and undergraduates and graduate students studying neuroscience!

Neuron by Danny Gray, PSU
The Portland Alcohol Research Center (PARC) @ OHSU is providing art supplies, and the PDX 3D printing Lab printed full-size human brains to offer teachers in Portland Public Schools!

LEARN MORE: How to 3D Print a Brain
See what we’ve been doing!
Pandemic connections

COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, PSU, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, PSU
3. Danny Gray, PSU
4. Lidia Echeverria-Garcia, PSU
5. Kassidy Fitzgerald, PSU
6. Sydney Duran, PSU
7. Isabella Maranghi, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
8. Joey Seuferling, NW Noggin
9. Annabelle Winking, PSU
10. Mikah Brandes, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
11. Michael Deveney, PSU
12. Andrea Rano, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
13. Aaron Eisen, NUNM
14. Harper Thomas, PSU
15. Arielle Isakharov, OHSU
16. Sam Carpenter, University of Michigan
Make a found object brain cell!

We’ve visited Creative Science LIVE in the past. Learn more at the links…
“You get me!” @ Creative Science

Creativity and Science

p:ear Blossoms!
2020-06-19 17:30 - 18:30 | Portland Art Museum
WHAT: p:ear Blossoms
WHERE: Virtual Gala: p:ear blossoms 2020 “My Sheltering Sky – in place”
WHEN: Friday, June 19, 2020, 5:30 – 6:30pm

“How fragile we are under the sheltering sky. Behind the sheltering sky is a vast dark universe, and we’re just so small.” –Paul Bowles

NW Noggin is deeply honored to receive the p:earblossoms 2020 Community Partner Award! The award belongs to all our extraordinary, engaged outreach volunteers (every one of us is a volunteer) for sharing neuroscience research on sleep, bias, adolescent brain development, drugs, stress, anxiety, mental health – and for listening, learning, advocating and making art!

LEARN MORE: Seeing us all through research & art
LEARN MORE: Listening to testimony @ p:ear
LEARN MORE: Being there means something
We had SO MUCH FUN presenting brains and art and all volunteer community outreach in our Portland community this June with the incomparable p:ear gala emcee POISON WATERS!!!

This year, p:ear turns 18!
On June 19th, we will celebrate p:ear’s 18 years of working with Portland’s homeless youth with a content-rich Virtual Gala featuring local celebrities (Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Liz Gilbert of Eat Pray Love, Portugal. The Man, host Poison Waters, and auctioneer Johnna Wells) and the vibrant voices of our community.
p:ear believes every young person deserves a place where they are nurtured and encouraged to grow: a sheltering sky that inspires curiosity and is fueled by hope and grounded in love. During the Covid-19 Crisis, our work with youth continues. We are their sheltering sky.

Join us for this momentous occasion! pearblossoms “My Sheltering Sky”

LEARN MORE ABOUT NOGGIN + P:EAR AT THE LINK
Noggin + P:ear

JOINING US…
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
4. Jordan Ray, PSU
LIMITED/ROSTER FULL

** CANCELED: Noggins in Bend!
2020-06-22 - 2020-06-23 | Oregon State University Cascades Campus, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ Cascades East Area Health Education Center (CEAHEC) Camp MedStars
** CANCELED (at least POSTPONED) due to coronavirus concerns
WHERE: Oregon State University Cascades Campus, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR 97702
WHEN: Monday, June 22 (noon) through Tuesday, June 23 (noon)
NOTE: You are welcome to arrive at OSU Cascades on Sunday night in Bend; dormitory housing is available both Sunday and Monday

Contact: Debbie Cole, Cascades East Area Health Education Center
MedStars is a week-long residence camp for diverse and underserved high school students in the Cascades East region. MedStars will take place in Bend with students and Noggin volunteers residing in the college dormitory on the OSU-Cascades Campus.

From collaborative outreach last year with the Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center
LEARN MORE: LTP in La Grande
We have room for FIVE (5) Noggin volunteers to join us in Bend, to learn from high school participants, make art and discuss brain research relevant to shared interests. CEAHEC will cover transportation costs (mileage reimbursement), housing and meals!
Come join us! Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu & aaeisen@pdx.edu
COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Leota Wolford, PSU
4. Kass Fitzgerald, PSU
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FREE: Reconnecting our Brains, One Cell at a Time
2020-06-24 10:30 - 11:30 | OR
WHAT: Reconnecting our Brains, One Cell at a Time. A FREE Society for Neuroscience global webinar with NW Noggin & BrainFacts.org
We did it!
LEARN MORE AT THE LINK!
Reconnecting Our Brains, One Cell at a Time

WHERE: EVERYWHERE! 🧠🎨🤝❤️ Register for the FREE webinar
WHEN: Thursday, June 24, 2020, 10:30am Pacific time; 1:30pm Eastern

LEARN MORE: Reconnecting Our Brains, One Cell at a Time
Our brains are home to billions of cells that love to reach out and connect. These networks of linked neurons and glia make us who we are, and let us perceive, think, and do. When separated by trauma, or injury, they are remarkably plastic, capable of establishing new synapses, developing creative approaches to navigating a complex world.

A pandemic is traumatic, separates networks, and makes it hard to connect with communities. But just like our brain cells, we can adapt and create new approaches to our ever-changing world.

In this webinar, discover how Northwest Noggin, a nonprofit organization, is reaching communities with neuroscience research and brain cell art, using found materials and sharing online.

LEARN MORE: Pandemic Connections
Join us for a FREE GLOBAL webinar on Wednesday, June 24th at 1:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (10:30am Pacific). This webinar is a collaboration between NW Noggin and BrainFacts.org.
Register for the FREE webinar

Noggin @ OHSU Brain Awareness lecture: Larry Sherman, Ph.D.
2020-07-27 17:30 - 21:00 | Newmark Theater, Portland, OR
The Neuroscience of Pleasure: How your brain responds to music, love and chocolate
Larry Sherman, Ph.D. (OHSU)
Larry Sherman, Ph.D.
Professor, Oregon National Primate Research Center
OHSU
POSTPONED TO Monday, July 27, 2020
All Brain Awareness Lectures take place at:
The Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland
and begin at 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: NW Noggin volunteers expected for set up at 5:30pm!
Listening to beautiful music, falling in love and eating really good chocolate create intense feelings of pleasure – but why? OHSU neuroscientist Larry Sherman, Ph.D., joined by the Portland Chamber Orchestra and singer Naomi LaViolette, presents a fascinating multi-media discussion and concert on how the brain experiences pleasure. Diving into exciting new research – including what happens to the brain when love goes awry – and what we can learn from the monogamous prairie vole, Dr. Sherman mixes music, humor and neuroscience for an unforgettable, educational evening.
This unique lecture and performance will have a 15 minute intermission, and end at 9 p.m.
Thanks to the OHSU Brain Institute, NW Noggin has 12 complimentary tickets to this event! We’ll staff a table loaded with brains and art before and after the show.

Please RSVP to griesar@pdx.edu, jleake@pdx.edu and aaeisen@pdx.edu
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
3. Kass Fitzgerald, PSU
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Society for Neuroscience Outreach Webinar!
2020-09-24 10:00 - 11:00 | OR
WHAT: Action & Potential in Outreach, Education & Research
We did it!

WATCH THE WEBINAR 🙂

WHERE: EVERYWHERE! 🧠🎨🤝❤️ CLICK ME: Webinar LINK
WHEN: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 10:0am Pacific time; 1:00pm Eastern

A second FREE Society for Neuroscience global webinar with BrainFacts.org & Northwest Noggin! Co-sponsored by the American Brain Coalition. Title based on our keynote address at SfN 2018* 🙂

Join Richard Wingate, the Head of Anatomy at Kings College London and Editor in Chief of BrainFacts.org, and Leigh Wilson, the Public Engagement manager at the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Kings and an avid outreach practitioner, as they explore the question:
“What does outreach mean to you?”
Bill Griesar and Jeff Leake of NW Noggin will moderate the event!

Brandan McClain, middle school teacher in Portland Public Schools
https://nwnoggin.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Joey-Seuferling.mp4
Joey Seuferling, University of Washington Medical School, NW Noggin volunteer
LEARN MORE: Pandemic Connections

See what we learned during our FIRST webinar on pandemic outreach HERE.
Reconnecting Our Brains, One Cell at a Time

Richard Wingate
Editor-in-Chief for BrainFacts.org and Reader in the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at King’s College London.
Richard Wingate is a Reader in the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at King’s College London. He completed his DPhil in Neurophysiology at Oxford University in 1992 with Professor Ian Thompson. He completed his Masters degree in Academic Practice in 2013 and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He was appointed Head of Anatomy at King’s College London in 2014. Richard has collaborated on a variety of public engagement projects. He was scientific advisor for the Wellcome Collection’s “Brain: the Mind as Matter” exhibition (2012) and has served on Wellcome Trust panels for Science and Art, Society (Pulse), Arts, Arts Production and the Hub selection. He is a member of the Public Education and Communication Committee of the Society for Neuroscience and sits on the advisory boards of the Old Operating Theatre Museum, London and the Science Gallery UK.
Leigh Wilson
Leigh Wilson is the Public Engagement manager at the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London. She has a long-standing passion for outreach lead into the public engagement and education field. Exciting current projects include partnering with artists to build creative and arts-lead approaches to undergraduate bioscience education as well as developing several school outreach programs, which aim to build national and international partnerships and science capital in communities ranging from France to India.
Jeff Leake
Jeff Leake holds a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from UC Davis. As an educator, he has dedicated himself to exploring the intersection between art and science. He currently teaches in the Psychology and University Studies departments at Portland State University where he works with his colleague (and fellow NW Noggin founder) Bill Griesar to teach art and neuroscience. He is also the president and arts coordinator of NW Noggin. As part of this organization, he has traveled around the country, lecturing and teaching neuroscience through art, working with more than 40,000 K-12 students (and a few adults) and was recognized as an innovator by the Obama White House.
Bill Griesar
Bill Griesar, Ph.D. is Senior Instructor in Psychology at Portland State University, founder and Neuroscience Coordinator of NW Noggin, Adjunct Instructor in University Studies at Portland State, and Affiliate Graduate Faculty in Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU. He has developed and taught neuroscience courses at Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, Clark College, amongst others since 2001, and co-founded (with Jeff Leake) the art + neuroscience outreach nonprofit nwnoggin.org. Through NW Noggin (which is entirely volunteer) he’s met with more than 40,000 K-12 students over real brains and art. He’s been recognized as an innovator by the Obama White House, and has won numerous teaching awards.

* LEARN MORE: Synapsing in San Diego @ SfN!

LIVE: Bill & Jeff introduction (5 minutes)
“But ultimately outreach is different things to different people. We asked outreach practitioners, collaborators, teachers what is their definition of outreach. Then we asked Richard and Leigh to talk about their responses to the clips.”

What does outreach mean to you?
Doing outreach: examples with kids!

LIVE: Bill/Jeff reflection and sum-up and then leads into questions (8 minutes)
Bill: “Leigh, given where we are at with the pandemic now, what is the future of outreach?”
Leigh: “Jeff, how can outreach bring out the creativity of science?”
Jeff: “Bill, inclusivity and diversity is a big part of what we do – how do we stay mindful of this?”
Bill: “Richard, you run a website – how can you ensure that you build diversity and inclusion into the neuroscience that you represent at BrainFacts?”

Noggin @ P:ear!
2020-10-08 10:00 - 13:00 | P:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ p:ear!
We did it! LINK HERE 🙂
A brain garden grows @ p:ear

And we are returning to p:ear again next week!
Noggin @ P:ear!

WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
(NW Noggin is deeply honored to be the p:ear 2020 Community Partner!)
WHEN: Thursday, October 8, 2020, 10:00am – 1:00pm

We’re planting a BRAIN GARDEN!

Noggin volunteers, properly masked and physically distanced, will present brains, paint plywood brains with young Portlanders for planting in p:ear’s new curbside planters – and answer ANY questions about neuroscience!

COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
2. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
3. Aaron Eisen, NW Noggin/NUNM/OHSU
4. Sorrel Johnson, PSU
5. Luis Carrillo, PSU
6. Jasmin Mabry, PSU/BUILD EXITO
7. Quinn Westlynd, PSU
8. Kassidy Fitzgerald, PSU
9. Lidia Echeverria-Garcia, PSU
10. Jacob Schoen, NUNM/OHSU

LEARN MORE:
Noggin @ P:ear 🧠🍐❤️

Noggin @ P:ear!
2020-10-15 10:00 - 13:00 | P:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
WHAT: Noggin @ p:ear!
We did it!!
The world, filtered

WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 (NW Noggin is deeply honored to be the p:earblossoms 2020 Community Partner Awardee!)
WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 2020, 10:00am – 1:00pm

We’re planting a BRAIN GARDEN!

Noggin volunteers, properly masked and physically distanced, will present brains at p:ear, enjoy painting plywood brains for planting in curbside planters, and answer ANY questions about neuroscience!

JOIN US: Please contact Bill Griesar (griesar@pdx.edu) and Jeff Leake (jleake@pdx.edu) to learn more, and get involved.
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
2. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
3. Kathleen Balan-Celino, PSU
4. Jasmine Mabry, PSU/BUILD EXITO
5. Sylvie Bindas, OHSU
6. Kassidy Fitzgerald, PSU
7. Lidia Echeverria-Garcia, PSU
8. Jacob Schoen, NUNM/OHSU
9. Michael Fleming, OHSU

From LAST Thursday 😃
A brain garden grows @ p:ear

LEARN MORE
Noggin @ P:ear 🧠🍐❤️

Vote Brains @ p:ear!
2020-10-29 10:00 - 13:00 | P:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
WHAT: #VoteBrains – Noggin @ p:ear!
We did it!

LEARN MORE AT THE LINK
Returning to find a voice

WHERE: p:ear, 338 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2020, 10:00am – 1:00pm

“The only way to practice democracy, is to practice democracy.”
— Hu Shih
NW Noggin is deeply honored to be the p:earblossoms 2020 Community Partner Awardee!

Pizza party and ballots!
P:ear is helping youth participate in local and national elections, and we’ll explore the critical importance for brain health of access to evidence-based information, collective community investment and support – and agency over our own environments, including the opportunity to vote for elected representatives.

LEARN MORE: Your brain on preparedness
LEARN MORE: As few as 1 in 10 homeless people vote in elections – here’s why
LEARN MORE: Legal and Practical Barriers to Voting for Homeless People
LEARN MORE: The Homeless Have Voting Rights but Face Many Hurdles
LEARN MORE: Republican voter suppression efforts were banned for decades. Here’s what changed.

Noggin Vesicles
We’re also making NOGGIN VESICLES – easily transported, screen-printed shoulder sacks filled with brain masks, KN95 masks, art supplies, 3D printed brains, clean “brain” socks, first aid kits, hand sanitizer, toothpaste/toothbrushes, and emergency blankets!

Brain masks sewn by Ashley Keates!
And if we receive more action potentials (i.e., donations :), we’ll release more vesicles!

LEARN MORE ABOUT VESICLES: Synaptic Vesicle Pools and Dynamics
We’ve raised some money for supplies, and if you’d like to contribute, please click below!

LEARN MORE: Nonprofit Noggins!

JOIN US: Please contact Bill Griesar (griesar@pdx.edu) and Jeff Leake (jleake@pdx.edu) to learn more, and get involved.

We’ll ALL be masked, and maintain physical distance 🙂
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin/PSU
2. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin/PSU/OHSU
3. Jasmin Mabry, PSU/BUILD EXITO
4. Jacob Schoen, NUNM/OHSU
5. Zoie Harpole, PSU
6. Lidia Echeverria-Garcia, University of Oregon
7. Aaron Eisen, NUNM/OHSU
8. Cam Howard, NUNM
9. Alex Phanphackdy, PSU
10. Ashley Keates, PSU

“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.”
— George Jean Nathan
See what else we’ve done at p:ear this month
The world, filtered

A brain garden grows @ p:ear

Noggin @ P:ear 🧠🍐❤️

PSU Neuro Club: Neuro-oncology Panel!
2020-11-12 18:30 - 20:30 | OR
WHAT: The PSU Neuroscience Club is hosting a virtual Neuro-oncology panel in partnership with the Neuroscience Club at the University of Washington. At this event, we will have guest speaker Dr. Tresa McGranaham, MD PhD, who is a neuro-oncologist at the Alvord Brain Tumor Center at UW School of Medicine. We will also have Cymon Kersch, a current MD-PhD student at OHSU who’s research has focused on Neuro-oncology. If you are interested in neuroscience, cancer, or medicine, this is a great opportunity to learn from experts and get to ask your own questions!
WHERE: The Zoom meeting ID is 950 1060 9698
WHEN: Thursday, November 12th from 6:30-8:30pm

FLYER: Neuro-oncology Panel

PSU Neuro Club: Developmental Neuroscience w/Dr. Kathryn Mills!
2020-11-19 16:00 - 17:00 | OR
WHAT: The PSU Neuroscience Club is hosting guest speaker Dr. Kathryn Mills for an event on developmental neuroscience! Dr. Mills received her PhD in neuroscience from University College London in 2015. She is currently the PI of the Developing Brains in Context Lab at University of Oregon. Her research uses brain imaging methods to investigate typical developmental trajectories between childhood and adulthood, as well as behavioral experiments to investigate how we navigate the social environment in adolescence and adulthood. Dr. Mills has worked with young people to bring their voices into the scientific discussion about their brains and behavior.
WHEN: Thursday, November 19th from 4:00-5:00pm
WHERE: The Zoom meeting ID is 950 1060 9698

PSU Neuro Club: Neurogenesis w/Dr. Hongjun Song
2021-01-21 17:00 - 18:30 | OR
WHAT: The PSU Neuroscience Club hosts guest speaker Dr. Hongjun Song to share his research, experiences and answer your questions.
WHERE: Please use the Zoom meeting ID: 850-5289-9532 (update!)
WHEN: Thursday, January 21st from 5:00-6:30pm

Dr. Song runs a lab at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania which focuses on neural growth and development, and epigenetics/epitranscriptomics in the nervous system. He’s also a new member of the National Academy of Medicine. He’ll discuss his research as well as the implications of these systems in brain disorders.

If you’re interested in neuroscience, or brain development, this is a great opportunity to learn from an expert and ask your own questions, too!

Noggins @ Fort Vancouver!
2021-02-02 08:30 - 14:05 | OR
WHAT: Noggin outreach at Fort Vancouver!
We did it!
LEARN MORE AT THE LINK
Uploading your brain from Vancouver

WHERE: Fort Vancouver High School, via ZOOM (links to come)

WHEN: Tuesday, February 2, 8:35am – 2:05pm

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
8:35am – 10:00am
Honors Biology (James Cederstrom)
10:15am – 11:40am
AP Biology (Coreyanne Russell) & Honors Biology (James Cederstrom)
12:40am – 2:05pm
Honors Biology (Coreyanne Russell & James Cederstrom)
We’ll kick off second semester at Fort Vancouver High School with two full days of Zoom visits!

Students will have identified parts of a neuron & parts of the brain in class through either readings/diagrams or Virtual Reality Activity. Students will also have questions prepared to ask volunteers. We’ll also build our own brain cells (both neurons and glia) out of found objects!

JOIN US!
Please email griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu to get involved.
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, Portland State University, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, Portland State University
3. Melissa Sek, PSU (8:30 – 10:00pm)
4. Roman Cimkovich, PSU (8:30am – noon)
5. Annabelle Winking, PSU (all day)
6. Connie Tran, PSU (8:30 – 10:30am)
7. Kit Carlton, artist
8. Karsen Coelho, PSU (8:30 – noon)
9. Amy Lin, PSU (8:30 – 10:30am)
10. Michael Deveney, PSU
11. Tiara Freeman, PSU
12. Jade Osilla, PSU/Lines for Life
13. Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
14. Paul Delahanty, PSU
15. Denesa Lockwood, OHSU
16. Nancy MacKenzie, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO (11:00am – 2:00pm)
17. Brittany Alperin, University of Richmond
18. Jeya Anandakumar, PSU (10:30am – 2:00pm)
19. Rose Maucolin, PSU
See what we’ve done previously at the sleep-deprived Home of the Trappers 🙂
Why do you study the brain?

Trap Squad!

Brains, biofeedback & SLEEP

Ventricles in Vancouver!

Noggins @ Fort Vancouver!
2021-02-04 08:30 - 14:05 | OR
WHAT: Noggin outreach at Fort Vancouver!
We did it!

WHERE: Fort Vancouver High School, via ZOOM (links to come)

WHEN: Thursday, February 4, 8:35am – 2:05pm

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
8:35am – 10:00am
Biology (Coreyanne Russell)
10:15am – 11:40am
Biology (Coreyanne Russell)
12:40am – 2:05pm
Honors Biology (Coreyanne Russell)

See what we did on Tuesday (2/2)!
Uploading your brain from Vancouver

We’ll kick off second semester at Fort Vancouver High School with two full days of Zoom visits!

Students will have identified parts of a neuron & parts of the brain in class through either readings/diagrams or Virtual Reality Activity. Students will also have questions prepared to ask volunteers. We’ll also build our own brain cells (both neurons and glia) out of found objects!

JOIN US!
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, Portland State University, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, Portland State University
3. Annabelle Winking, PSU (all day)
4. Lucille Thornhill, PSU (10:30am – 12:30pm)
5. Lidia Escheverria-Garcia, PSU (11:30am – 2:00pm)
6. Michael Deveney, PSU
7. Tiara Freeman, PSU
8. Jade Osilla, PSU/Lines for Life
9. Cecilia Araneda, Arpillera & the Brain
10. Darrin Lane, PSU
11. Aaron Eisen, NUNM, OHSU
12. Denesa Lockwood, OHSU
13. McKenzie Figuración, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO/OHSU
See what we’ve done previously at the sleep-deprived Home of the Trappers 🙂
Why do you study the brain?

Trap Squad!

Brains, biofeedback & SLEEP

Ventricles in Vancouver!

Noggins in Hawaii!
2021-02-09 10:15 - 12:30 | OR
WHAT: Noggin outreach in Hawaii!
We did it!
LEARN MORE AT THE LINK
Ho brah, he lolo maoli kēlā!

WHERE: Waikiki School, via ZOOM (links to come)

WHEN: Tuesday, February 9, 10:15am – 12:30am (First session 10:15am – 11:15am; Second session 11:30 – 12:30)

We’re going island style brah!
Noggin volunteers will visit 5th grade students at Waikiki Elementary two mornings (Tuesday and Thursday) this week. “Faculty at Waikiki Elementary School are leaders in the community who share a passion for teaching and creating a supportive learning environment that is challenging, collaborative and engaging.”

Students will have identified parts of a neuron & parts of the brain in class. Students will also have questions prepared to ask volunteers. We’ll also build our own brain cells (both neurons and glia) out of found objects!

JOIN US!
Please email griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu to get involved.
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, Portland State University, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, Portland State University
3. Aaron Eisen, NW Noggin, National University of Natural Medicine, OHSU
4. Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
5. Melissa Sek, PSU
6. Arielle Isakharov, OHSU
7. Annabelle Winking, PSU
8. Connie Tran, PSU
9. Amelia Lichtenberg, PSU
10. Jasmin Mabry, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO
11. Michael Deveney, PSU
12. Melissa DeMoura, PSU
13. Tiara Freeman, PSU
14. Paul Delahanty, PSU
15. Sheila Stern, American Brain Coalition
16. Kit Carlson, artist
17. Nancy MacKenzie, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO

Questions from 5th grade!
● How does the brain dream at nighttime?
● How does the brain develop memories?
● What if our body didn’t have sensory nerves, but had nerves?
● What if our body didn’t have nerves but had sensory nerves?
● Why do younger people remember more memories than older people?
● Does the brain control our emotions, thoughts and behaviors?
● What is the brain made of?
● When the brain is dead, does it change color?
● Does the brain grow larger as you keep on growing?
● What colors can brains become?
● My first question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to loud noises.
● My second question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to moving objects.
● How does your brain store important information?
● Could you switch your brain with something similar?
● Would the word color reading experiment be easier or harder for preschoolers?
● If one of my senses didn’t work would I panic if I did the hole in the hand experiment?
● Why do we have dreams?
● Why do we get excited?
● What does the brain feel like, is it mushy, is it soft?
● Is the brain really pink like in the movies?
● Why does the brain panic?
● What does the brain do when it becomes overloaded?
● If two people switched brains what would happen?
● Could you replace the brain with something the same shape and texture?
● How does the brain control our body?
● If we get a new brain would we forget our memories?
● I wonder what would happen if you swapped your brain with someone else. Would you have his memories? Why or why not?
● Why does my brain tell my body what to do?
● How does my brain have room for my memories?
● Are nerves hard like thin bones or are they soft and stringy like yarn?
● When we get headaches, are they happening in our brain and if so why and how?
● Why do we dream?
● What sports require really good reaction time and how does our brain learn how to react?
● How does our brain know that our body is in distress?
● How do signals travel through sensory nerves to the brain?
● What does a brain feel like?
● What makes a brain function your body?
● Is it true that bigger brains are smarter than smaller brains?
● How does the brain not have any moving parts?
● Why do we have blood in our brain?
● Which is the most important part in the human, brain or heart?
● How fast does the brain make decisions, give information and control your muscles to other parts of the body?
● How come the brain is in our head?
● What’s the difference between a smart brain vs. a not smart brain?
● How many parts of the brain are there and what are they called?
● How does the brain send commands to the other parts of your body?
● I wonder why we don’t just run out of storage in our brain?
● Why are we able to work with one muscle?
● Why is the brain slimy?
● Where do brains come from?
● How does our brain control us?
● Is our brain the only body part that controls our body?
● When you sleep, does your brain sleep?
● When you dream does your brain memorize stuff and put it together in the dream?
● What would happen if we couldn’t feel pain from our nervous system?
● What if we didn’t have our nervous system?
● How many cells does the brain have?
● How does the brain work? Does it have anything like a motor?
● How does our brain decide what goes in our dreams?
● Why does the brain not remember things that happened a long time ago?
● The brain controls our body, is there a way to alter the brain to become some sort of godly figure?
● What if there was some sort of zombie apocalypse, would we be mindless?
● Have you ever touched a brain?
● What is inside the brain?
● Where does the brain keep memories?
● Why does the body parts get weaker when we get older?
● How do blue light glasses actually work when playing video games?
● Why do we get happy or mad when you win or lose in video games? It does feel like I accomplish something, but it’s just a game.
● When we’re scared, why do we scream?
● How can someone get over dyslexia?
● How does your brain flip the pictures that you see?
● Why do brains look like they have those tubes?
● How can our brain contain all these memories?
● Why does our brain use up so much energy?
● What if our body didn’t have sensory nerves, but had nerves?
● What if our body didn’t have nerves but had sensory nerves?
● Can a person survive without a brain?
● Are there different types of brains?
● Who named the brain?
● Do we have infinite memory?
● How does the brain store memories?
● How does the brain control your body?
● What would happen if our brains were shaped differently than they are right now? Would we still act the same?
● Are animal brains similar to human brains?
● Does the brain grow larger as you keep on growing?
● What colors can brains become?
● What if the brain was 2x smaller?
● What if the brain was 2x bigger?
● Is our brain the hardest worker of our body part?
● How does it store so many memories when it’s so small?
● What would happen if your brain could not make decisions?
● What if humans’ reaction time was a second?
● What would it be like if you switched, you’re brain with a dog’s brain?
● Why do we think certain things are beautiful and some things are not?
● How do we store all of our memories in our brains?
● Why do we dream?
● Does the brain have a limit to storing and learning new things?
● Why do people lose their memory?
● How will you figure out how the brain works?
● Where do you get brains to dissect?
● Why does the brain have memory (how does it remember things)?
● Why do some brain think differently?
● What is the brain made of?
● When the brain is dead, does it change color?
● My first question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to loud noises?
● My second question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to moving objects?
● Do we need our brain to help us walk and talk?
● Every one of our memories in our brain do they disappear or just stay in our head?
● How do brains work?
● Why are brains the shape it is?
● Can the Brain learn anything?
● How many parts are in the Brain?
● How does the brain dream at night time?
● How does the brain develop memories?
● What can I do to have a super healthy brain?
● What are brain waves?
● How do we make decisions?
● What is intelligence?
● Why do younger people remember more memories than older people?
● Does the brain control our emotions, thoughts and behaviors?

Noggins in Hawaii!
2021-02-11 10:15 - 12:30 | OR
WHAT: Noggin outreach in Hawaii!
We did it!

LEARN MORE AT THE LINK

Ho brah, he lolo maoli kēlā!

WHERE: Waikiki School, via ZOOM (links to come)

WHEN: Thursday, February 11, 10:15am – 12:30am (First session 10:15am – 11:15am; Second session 11:30 – 12:30)
Noggin volunteers will visit 5th grade students at Waikiki Elementary two mornings (Tuesday and Thursday) this week. “Faculty at Waikiki Elementary School are leaders in the community who share a passion for teaching and creating a supportive learning environment that is challenging, collaborative and engaging.”

Students will have identified parts of a neuron & parts of the brain in class. Students will also have questions prepared to ask volunteers. We’ll also build our own brain cells (both neurons and glia) out of found objects!

JOIN US!
Please email griesar@pdx.edu and jleake@pdx.edu to get involved.
COMMITTED PARTICIPANTS
1. Bill Griesar, NW Noggin, Portland State University, OHSU
2. Jeff Leake, NW Noggin, Portland State University
3. Aaron Eisen, NW Noggin, National University of Natural Medicine, OHSU
4. Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin
5. Roman Cimkovich, PSU
6. Annabelle Winking, PSU
7. Karsen Coelho, PSU
8. Michael Deveney, PSU
9. Hannah Fulenwider, OHSU
10. Tiara Freeman, PSU
11. Paul Delahanty, PSU
12. Sheila Stern, American Brain Coalition
13. Kit Carlson, artist
14. Chrysania Monroe, PSU
15. Greyson Moore, PSU
16. Mikah Brandes, OHSU/PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO

Questions from 5th grade!
● How does the brain dream at nighttime?
● How does the brain develop memories?
● What if our body didn’t have sensory nerves, but had nerves?
● What if our body didn’t have nerves but had sensory nerves?
● Why do younger people remember more memories than older people?
● Does the brain control our emotions, thoughts and behaviors?
● What is the brain made of?
● When the brain is dead, does it change color?
● Does the brain grow larger as you keep on growing?
● What colors can brains become?
● My first question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to loud noises.
● My second question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to moving objects.
● How does your brain store important information?
● Could you switch your brain with something similar?
● Would the word color reading experiment be easier or harder for preschoolers?
● If one of my senses didn’t work would I panic if I did the hole in the hand experiment?
● Why do we have dreams?
● Why do we get excited?
● What does the brain feel like, is it mushy, is it soft?
● Is the brain really pink like in the movies?
● Why does the brain panic?
● What does the brain do when it becomes overloaded?
● If two people switched brains what would happen?
● Could you replace the brain with something the same shape and texture?
● How does the brain control our body?
● If we get a new brain would we forget our memories?
● I wonder what would happen if you swapped your brain with someone else. Would you have his memories? Why or why not?
● Why does my brain tell my body what to do?

● How does my brain have room for my memories?
● Are nerves hard like thin bones or are they soft and stringy like yarn?
● When we get headaches, are they happening in our brain and if so why and how?
● Why do we dream?
● What sports require really good reaction time and how does our brain learn how to react?
● How does our brain know that our body is in distress?
● How do signals travel through sensory nerves to the brain?
● What does a brain feel like?
● What makes a brain function your body?
● Is it true that bigger brains are smarter than smaller brains?
● How does the brain not have any moving parts?
● Why do we have blood in our brain?
● Which is the most important part in the human, brain or heart?
● How fast does the brain make decisions, give information and control your muscles to other parts of the body?
● How come the brain is in our head?
● What’s the difference between a smart brain vs. a not smart brain?
● How many parts of the brain are there and what are they called?
● How does the brain send commands to the other parts of your body?
● I wonder why we don’t just run out of storage in our brain?
● Why are we able to work with one muscle?
● Why is the brain slimy?
● Where do brains come from?
● How does our brain control us?
● Is our brain the only body part that controls our body?
● When you sleep, does your brain sleep?
● When you dream does your brain memorize stuff and put it together in the dream?
● What would happen if we couldn’t feel pain from our nervous system?
● What if we didn’t have our nervous system?
● How many cells does the brain have?
● How does the brain work? Does it have anything like a motor?
● How does our brain decide what goes in our dreams?
● Why does the brain not remember things that happened a long time ago?
● The brain controls our body, is there a way to alter the brain to become some sort of godly figure?
● What if there was some sort of zombie apocalypse, would we be mindless?
● Have you ever touched a brain?

● What is inside the brain?
● Where does the brain keep memories?
● Why does the body parts get weaker when we get older?
● How do blue light glasses actually work when playing video games?
● Why do we get happy or mad when you win or lose in video games? It does feel like I accomplish something, but it’s just a game.
● When we’re scared, why do we scream?
● How can someone get over dyslexia?
● How does your brain flip the pictures that you see?
● Why do brains look like they have those tubes?
● How can our brain contain all these memories?
● Why does our brain use up so much energy?
● What if our body didn’t have sensory nerves, but had nerves?
● What if our body didn’t have nerves but had sensory nerves?
● Can a person survive without a brain?
● Are there different types of brains?
● Who named the brain?
● Do we have infinite memory?
● How does the brain store memories?
● How does the brain control your body?

● What would happen if our brains were shaped differently than they are right now? Would we still act the same?
● Are animal brains similar to human brains?
● Does the brain grow larger as you keep on growing?
● What colors can brains become?
● What if the brain was 2x smaller?
● What if the brain was 2x bigger?
● Is our brain the hardest worker of our body part?
● How does it store so many memories when it’s so small?
● What would happen if your brain could not make decisions?
● What if humans’ reaction time was a second?
● What would it be like if you switched, you’re brain with a dog’s brain?
● Why do we think certain things are beautiful and some things are not?
● How do we store all of our memories in our brains?
● Why do we dream?
● Does the brain have a limit to storing and learning new things?
● Why do people lose their memory?
● How will you figure out how the brain works?
● Where do you get brains to dissect?
● Why does the brain have memory (how does it remember things)?
● Why do some brain think differently?
● What is the brain made of?
● When the brain is dead, does it change color?
● My first question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to loud noises?
● My second question for the neuroscientist is how does your brain react to moving objects?
● Do we need our brain to help us walk and talk?
● Every one of our memories in our brain do they disappear or just stay in our head?
● How do brains work?
● Why are brains the shape it is?
● Can the Brain learn anything?
● How many parts are in the Brain?
● How does the brain dream at night time?
● How does the brain develop memories?
● What can I do to have a super healthy brain?
● What are brain waves?
● How do we make decisions?
● What is intelligence?
● Why do younger people remember more memories than older people?
● Does the brain control our emotions, thoughts and behaviors?

Virtual Science Pub with Denesa Lockwood: Can You Smell Me Now?
2021-02-16 18:30 - 20:30 | OR
WHAT: Virtual Science Pub: Can You Smell Me Now? How COVID-19 Affects Our Sense of Smell and Taste with OHSU Behavioral Neuroscientist and Northwest Noggin Board member Dr. Denesa Lockwood!
WHERE: Virtual OMSI Science Pub – Facebook Live & YouTube; REGISTER HERE
WHEN: FEB 16, 2021 | Virtual Edition | 6:30-8:30PM

Currently touted as one of the more noticeable symptoms of COVID-19 infection, lack of smell has also been associated with many other conditions and can severely impact the sufferer. How does this condition arise, especially with a virus that seems to mostly impact the respiratory system? In this talk, neuroscientist Denesa Lockwood will explore how the senses of smell and taste are intertwined with the brain and review current scientific findings on how and why the coronaviruses affect olfactory neurons.

Denesa Lockwood, Ph.D. is a behavioral neuroscientist, studying behavior and the underlying neural mechanisms by which behavior arises. She graduated from Western Oregon University and then completed her graduate work at Florida State University, with a dissertation focused on conditioned taste aversion. She currently studies the genetic underpinnings of alcohol addiction, but remains interested in learning and memory, including sensory memories.
When she’s not getting mice drunk in the lab, Denesa stays busy wrangling three children, two dogs, and a constantly varying number of fish. She has been an active volunteer and voice for broader science dissemination into the community, heading up the March for Science efforts here in Portland for several years running. She also is a board member of the non-profit educational outreach group NW NOGGIN, where she has volunteered across the country teaching students of all ages about the basics of neuroscience, and she recently (2019) received the Sigma Xi Outstanding Supporter of Research award.

** CANCELED - PSU Neuro Club: NEUROSURGERY!
2021-02-25 18:30 - 20:00 | OR
WHAT: Neurosurgery with Dr. Kokkino
CANCELED (so sorry!) – regular club meeting tonight
WHEN: Thursday, February 25th at 6:30pm
WHERE: Zoom ID- 862 6140 2069

Dr. Kokkino, a neurosurgeon with a specialization in neurooncology and minimally invasive surgical techniques, will join the PSU Neuroscience Club for a fun event! Dr. Kokkino will present interesting neurosurgery cases, and will answer student questions!
LEARN MORE: What is brain surgery like?

PSU Neuro Club: Considering med school?
2021-03-03 18:30 - 20:00 | OR
WHAT: OHSU Medical School Panel
WHEN: Wednesday, March 3rd at 6:30pm
WHERE: Zoom ID- 862 6140 2069

Medical students from OHSU will be joining the PSU Neuroscience Club for a panel event where they discuss their paths in medicine! This will be a very interactive event, where students will have a chance to ask OHSU medical students any questions they have.
