The Program in Neuroscience

The College of Charleston’s Neuroscience Seniors partner with the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry (CML) every year to promote neuroscience during International Brain Awareness Week.  The event is sponsored by the College of Charleston’s HHMI grant. The capstone Neuroscience Seminar course students in collaboration with faculty member Beth Meyer-Bernstein (Biology/Neuroscience), spend several months gathering ideas and materials to present to school children at CML. Students from the class go to the CML’s Whiz Kids armed with brain models, optical illusions, smell and touch jars, learning and memory tasks and playdoh to educate local children about the importance of their brain and neuroscience research. Approximately 25 children attend the Whiz Kids session and had a great time with numerous hands-on activities (so do their parents and teachers!).

In addition to the Whiz kid event,  the students share their knowledge and fascination of neuroscience at a Free Friday event at CML. This event, co-sponsored by CML and the Junior League of Charleston, targets Title One schools and outreach centers at local churches and agencies. The students bring with them some of the activities they use at Whiz Kids, as well as coloring and labeling pages on the brain and nervous system, informational displays, take home activity books, pencils and stickers and lots of pipe cleaners to make neurons. This successful outreach project reaches about 650 people from the Charleston area each year.  Thanks to CML and the Junior League of Charleston for supporting neuroscience awareness in our community!

Follow the Neuroscience Program’s yearly Brain Awareness Week outreach program at the HHMI Blog page.