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The brain is fair game for kids

December 05, 2006

Candy brains, smashed bicycle helmets and optical illusions filled the 1941 Room as behavioral neuroscience students hosted elementary school children for the 2nd annual "Kids Judge" neuroscience fair.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, the youngsters from various local community service organizations and Boy and Girl Scout troops participated in 11 interactive demonstrations, crafts and games designed to help them learn about brain functions.

The elementary school students served as judges for the college students' fair projects. Following a format which originated at UCLA eight years ago, the fair has since been implemented at colleges across the country.

Last year, Joe Schroeder, visiting assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience, decided to bring the fair to Connecticut College. The fair was sponsored by OVCS, the Holleran Center, the Multiculturalism and Diversity Committee, the psychology department and the neuroscience program.

"From the children's perspective, it is an opportunity to learn about brain function and get interested in science," Schroeder said. "From the college students' perspective, it's a community service project - service learning - which is a focus for the college. If these students are able to communicate these very complex brain functions to children at a fourth to sixth-grade level, then that means they can understand the subject matter that much better."

The activities ranged from noticing optical illusions in drawings to "neuron cookies" to a demonstration on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Schroeder noted that the elementary school students were particularly responsive to the bicycle safety booth. "It's a very simple concept - this is what happens if you do wear your helmet, this is what happens if you don't," Schroeder said. "It's really a take-home message - you get to create your own bike helmet."

Schroeder attributes his interest in science to his own childhood, which may explain why he is so interested in sharing science with children.

"My Dad was a biology professor at Gettysburg College and he always tried to interest me in what he was doing," Schroeder said. "So I got interested in science from an early age with that hands-on experimental learning. I try to use that same ideal for kids that may have a laissez-faire attitude about science. If you tell them something cool and fun about it, perhaps it will get them interested. I will absolutely be doing this fair next year."

In addition to hosting the Kids Judge fair, Schroeder has his own "traveling neuroscience road show," where he brings similar exhibits to local schools.

- Paul Dryden '07

The interdisciplinary behavioral neuroscience major consists of 15 courses, and independent research, either as Individual Study or Honors Study, is strongly recommended.

For media inquiries contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu