Where is NW Noggin?
Our innovative graduate and undergraduate art and neuroscience volunteers are Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) Juice award-winning developing experts in science communication, synapsing for science, and teaching in schools, theaters, museums, urban and rural communities, homeless youth centers, breweries, correctional facilities, Congress and bike shop pubs! For more information see NOGGIN BLOGGIN.NW Noggin is a locally sourced, 501(c)(3) ALL-VOLUNTEER shoestring nonprofit organization. Your tax-deductible contribution supports the purchase of sheep brains, pipe cleaners, electrodes and clay for innovative, arts-integrated outreach, and helps send volunteers from local universities (including Portland State University, OHSU, and other area institutions) to public school classrooms, conferences and free community events.
DONATE HERE!
LEARN MORE: Community Neuroscience: How to Build an Outreach Organization
NW Noggin: Art + Brains
Brain Awareness for ALL
Noggin has the Juice!
Join us in Chile in *2027*!
In 2027 we'll return to Valparaíso, Chile, home of the Humboldt squid! 🦑⚡️🧠🎨😃 Just like in 2025, and 2023, we'll explore how neurons carry information, and how research in Chile (involving the squid’s giant fused axons) informed our understanding of the electrical signaling that links our experiences to the world. We’ll visit laboratories to examine the rich history and exciting present of research at the Universidad de Chile en Valparaíso, make art (including arpilleras, woven depictions of experience that help people express challenging memories and preserve them for accountability), and contribute to community engagement with Ciencia al Tiro, a local STEAM (STEM + Arts) outreach nonprofit.
LEARN MORE: LAS NEURONAS SON BACANES. LEARN MORE: Valparaiso - Arte y Cerebros en Chile LEARN MORE: ARTS AND BRAINS IN CHILE
Neuroscience for all: Creating a Brain Brochure
Post by Roman Cimkovich, dedicated Northwest Noggin outreach participant and undergraduate in Psychology pursuing an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience minor at Portland State University. “Neuroanatomy isn’t destiny. Neither is genetics. They don’t define who you will be. But they do define who you might be. They define who you can be.” — Temple Grandin Learning about the anatomy…
Sleepy brains at Fort
Post by Hannah Shawo, regular Northwest Noggin outreach participant and undergraduate in Psychology pursuing an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience minor at Portland State University. Last Tuesday we made our way to Fort Vancouver High School, where we met students bright and early at 7:25 AM. As someone who tends to go to bed quite late, waking up…
Mindful Research
Post by Chaya Krieg, undergraduate in Psychology pursuing an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience minor at Portland State University. Chaya is working in Dr. Andy Mashburn’s lab, contributing to The Mindfulness Pre-K Project at PSU. Growing up I never saw myself going to college, let alone studying Psychology and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience. So when…
Papier-Mâché: Shaping Our Brain
Post by Brooke Searle, regular Northwest Noggin outreach participant and undergraduate in Psychology pursuing an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience minor at Portland State University. “Then after lunch it’s puzzles and darts and baking, papier-mâché, a bit a ballet and chess…” — Rapunzel (from Disney’s “Tangled”) On two days in October, NW Noggin came…
A Scientific Journey: The Value of Subjective Data
Post by Savanah Gipson, undergraduate in Psychology pursuing a minor in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience and in Biology at Portland State University. Savanah has been working in Dr. Tori Crain’s RESET lab at PSU. When you hear the words “scientific research”, what image comes to mind? Smoking test tubes, squeaking rats, whirring machines, and unending lists of…
Research & Practice: The Human Element
Post by Brittani Wallsten, undergraduate in Psychology pursuing a minor in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience at Portland State University. Brittani has been working in Dr. Barb Sorg’s lab at Legacy Research Institute. READ MY FIRST POST: To the Lab! While working at the lab, I maintained my other job at a mental health treatment home. This wasn’t ideal because I’ve worked 50+…
To the Lab!
Post by Brittani Wallsten, undergraduate in Psychology pursuing a minor in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience at Portland State University. Brittani has been working in Dr. Barb Sorg’s lab at Legacy Research Institute. As I’m sure many of you can relate, I am fascinated by the brain. It’s so interesting to me that…
Roundhouse Receptors!
We are thrilled to announce that we have a grant from the Roundhouse Foundation! The Roundhouse Foundation, based in Sisters, Oregon, supports “programs that inspire creativity and connect people with each other and their sense of place to ensure sustainability and economic success for Oregon’s rural communities.” LEARN MORE: Roundhouse…
Brains Beyond SfN
The last time we traveled to San Diego for the annual Society for Neuroscience conference, we gave the 2018 keynote address on brain awareness, and joined a panel discussion on neuroscience outreach. We heard from representatives of resource-rich institutions who talked about their well-staffed offices, expert-judged Brain Bees and annual…
Observing Art & Brains @ SfN
We’re in California! We spent two days driving 1000+ miles south over mountain passes and deserts to palm trees and sun, to join enthusiastic outreach volunteers at the annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference! Huge thanks to Jill and Michael in Grants Pass, Oregon and Theresa and Billy in Pleasanton,…
What is outreach like?
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.” ―Maya Angelou
Our Northwest Noggin undergraduate and graduate outreach volunteers are enthusiastic and informed, and regularly let knowledge serve by going places, making art, exploring brain research, sharing stories and listening to community questions and interests in urban and rural K-12 public schools, coffee shops, museums, correctional facilities, houseless youth nonprofits, research conferences, Congress and more! LEARN MORE @ What is outreach like?.