K-12 Education Programs Spark Curiosity About the Brain for all Ages

Tasting an ice cream cone on a hot summer day ??, kicking a soccer ball in the park ?, laughing at a funny joke with your friends ?? – these experiences are all possible because of our amazing brains ??. The brain is the most complex part of the human body; this three-pound organ is responsible for pretty much everything we do! People of all ages can be curious about the brain, and it is important to understand how the brain works, how to keep your brain healthy, and what happens if the brain doesn’t work like it should. While the study of neuroscience is complex, creative strategies can be used to make neuroscience engaging and accessible to everyone.??

In 2010, the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research established the K-12 Neuroscience Education initiative, which included Administrative Supplements for R25 Science Education Grants (NOT-DA-10-007), the Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Science Education Award (R25; RFA-DA-11-013), and the Innovative Neuroscience K-12 Education (SBIR; R43/R44; PAR-10-154). The goal of this initiative was to develop educational neuroscience programs to increase science literacy and understanding as well as spark interest in neuroscience among K-12 students and their teachers. This program funded 21 projects for ~$21 million. Proposals funded by this initiative included exciting activities such as using touch tablet technology to teach neurobiology, and the creation of a 1,400-square-foot interactive learning center.??

Perhaps one of the most impactful parts of this initiative is the development of the Backyard Brains . Blueprint was the first NIH support for the Backyard Brains team who have developed numerous valuable and accessible neuroscience educational resources for everyone, including their Neuron SpikerBox kits and Human Physiology kits. Ever wonder what a neuron sounds like when it “talks” to another neuron? To date, over 46,000 people (and counting!) have heard what neurons sound like for the first time with SpikerBoxes.?The Backyard Brains team was awarded the “Champion of Change for Citizen Science” by President Obama at the White House, and they won the Next Generation Award from the Society for Neuroscience in 2010.?

For more information on past and present training opportunities funded by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, please visit the training webpage: Training Overview | Blueprint (nih.gov) #NIHBlueprint20??