Where is NW Noggin?
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
Many Noggins are better than one!
Dopamine in Davenport!
Changing Brain Waves of Depression
Join us in Chile in 2025!
LEARN MORE: LAS NEURONAS SON BACANES.
LTP in La Grande
Brain cells connect, and those points of connection, called synapses, are changeable. Synapses will strengthen (“potentiate”), or weaken (“attenuate”) in response to changes in synaptic activity, which is determined by what you’re doing, experiencing, and/or perceiving at the time. Highly stimulated neurons, for example, will change how they express genes,…
Seeing & STEAM in Vancouver
“Science and art have in common intense seeing, the wide-eyed observing that generates empirical information.” –Edward Tufte NW Noggin crossed the Columbia River (at rush hour!) this spring to meet with curious students and families for STEAM NIGHT at Sarah J. Anderson Elementary..! LEARN MORE: Sarah J. Anderson Elementary Sarah…
Mushrooms, Psychosis, & Drugs
Thank you OHSU Brain Institute (OBI) for yet another compelling season of Brain Awareness lectures at Portland’s Newmark Theater! LEARN MORE: OBI Brain Awareness Lectures NW Noggin is always thrilled to introduce our informed and enthusiastic neuroscience outreach volunteers to celebrated scientists discussing cutting edge research on the brain! This…
Empowerment through Art & Brains
A Legacy of Links
Like brain cells, Noggin volunteers love reaching out, and synapsing with people and organizations in our vibrant Northwest community. LEARN MORE: NW Noggin Collaborators Excitatory Connections At Portland State University, OHSU graduate students are integrated into advanced undergraduate neuroscience courses, while our accomplished PSU Neuroscience Club members not only present…
Accumbens in Astoria
Post by Angela Hendrix, NW Noggin The nucleus accumbens is part of our brain’s mesolimbic dopamine pathway, and responds to aspects of our world which predict reward. The word ‘accumbens‘ also means to lie down… LEARN MORE: Dopaminergic reward system: a short integrative review NW Noggin ventured west of Portland…
A less self-centered and more creative life
“The mystical experience is doubly valuable; it is valuable because it gives the experiencer a better understanding of (themselves) and the world and because it may help (them) to lead a less self-centered and more creative life.” — Aldous Huxley Twenty seven (!) informed undergraduates from Portland State University and…
Treating the whole person
Noggins & Kings
Going places, going places – putting yourself out there, listening, and sharing sciart and noggins brings so many benefits, opportunities, relationships and ideas..! Last fall we traveled to San Diego for the annual Society for Neuroscience conference… LEARN MORE: Synapsing in San Diego @ SfN! We presented many posters, mentored exceptional young neuroscientists,…
Brains to the Streets!
“Science is fun. Science is curiosity. We all have natural curiosity. Science is…delving in.” –Sally Ride We LOVED taking brains to the streets in 2017, after the Trump/Pence administration threatened to cut support for the National Institutes for Health. The NIH funds essential scientific research to address a host of national priorities, including…
Synapsing in San Diego
“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 AMAZING volunteers organized the largest all ages Art & Neuroscience Festival in the Pacific Northwest! We offered live bands, science-inspired art, neuroscience research presentations, and the chance to ask questions and examine real brains! The fifth annual Noggin Fest helped send more young scientists and artists to the Society for Neuroscience conference in San Diego - and into San Diego Unified Public Schools! LEARN MORE @ Brains Beyond SfN!.