Along with the North Florida Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, the FSU Program in Neuroscience engages the local community with a number of outreach activities. Each year, the Program in Neuroscience hosts a Brain Fair and the North Florida Brain Bee. We also participate in local science fairs such as the Tallahassee Science Festival and the Tallahassee Bioengineering Symposium. If you’d like us to come to your event and talk neuroscience, reach out to us!
Our mission is to enhance local community knowledge about the scientific study of the brain, particularly neuroscience education at the K-12 level. We are committed to:
- Educating local and statewide K-12 students about the importance of the brain and relevant research topics relating to the brain.
- Encouraging K-12 educators to incorporate neuroscience curriculum into their classrooms.
- Training and inspiring talented high school/college students to pursue Neuroscience-related careers.
Brain Fair
The annual Brain Fair is a community-based event for kids of all ages to learn about how their brains work! This fun, highly engaging event occurs in the spring and is hosted by the Neuroscience Graduate Student Association. It offers interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a unique experience to engage with real scientists. You can learn about your senses, explore the brain, and build a neuron. Children of all ages will be able to participate in many activities that will expand their understanding of the human brain and cultivate their inner scientist! Bring the entire family for an adventure through the secrets of the human brain. This event is FREE and open to the public with no prior registration – simply walk in and let us show you the way of the brain!
North Florida Brain Bee
The annual North Florida Brain Bee is a live competition, occurring in March, that tests the neuroscience knowledge of high school students of various topics including learning and memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, sleep, addiction, neuroanatomy, and neural disorders. Intimidated? Don’t bee! Experienced graduate students from the Program in Neuroscience at FSU will teach you everything you need to know across six weekly lectures and host a review session prior to the competition. Bee-lieve us when we say this is an incredible opportunity for any high school student! Are the free and guided neuroscience lectures still not as sweet as honey? How about money? The top 3 winners of the North Florida Brain Bee are awarded a cash prize and all participants receive a certificate. The 1st place winner qualifies to compete in the National Brain Bee competition!
Classroom Visits
Classroom visits can be scheduled if you are a teacher in the Big Bend area and would like the Neuroscience Graduate Student Association at FSU’s Program in Neuroscience to visit your classroom.
Classroom visits are designed to:
- Educate students about topics related to the brain and neuroscience, including educational demonstrations.
- Provide information and registration forms for the annual North Florida Brain Bee.