Since we believe in the importance of neuroscience education, we have taken the initiative to reach out to the public, primarily K-12 students. Since 1995, the Neuroscience Training Program has offered an expanding repertoire of outreach activities. A sample of our outreach activities is included below. In addition to the activities listed, the program also takes part in family science nights, science fair judging, visits to school science clubs, trips to the Madison Children’s Museum, and other youth/community presentations.
Classroom Visits
Each year, the Neuroscience Training Program visits local middle schools to present activities about the brain. The visits, led by undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members consist of different neuroscience activities based on individual classroom preferences. Typical activities include an examination of a real human brain that students can touch, brain Q&A, and a motor learning activity. UW groups are available for classroom visits throughout the academic year, so please contact the NTP Outreach Specialist, Heidi Neeley at (608) 262-4932, ntp@mailplus.wisc.edu if you would like to set up a visit for your classroom.
Science Expeditions
The Neuroscience Training Program also participates in Science Expeditions each year, a campus-wide science outreach event. For more information on Science Expeditions please click here.
Wisconsin Science Festival
The Neuroscience Training Program participates in the Wisconsin Science Festival which takes place at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. Students and faculty lead multiple hands-on exploration stations including showing the community human brain specimens, dissections, hearing demos, kinesthetic illusions and more. For more information about the Wisconsin Science Festival please click here.
PEOPLE Program
NTP hosts a neurobiology unit for the PEOPLE summer Program. PEOPLE Program students complete a 2-week residential program on the UW-Madison campus that includes writing skills development; daytime workshops in the biological sciences, physical sciences, engineering, biomedical research and health sciences; and an evening curriculum in the fine and performance arts. The Neuroscience Training Program graduate students teach the two-week neurobiology course for PEOPLE students.
Lending Library
Click here to view our Lending Library.
If you would like information on any of the above outreach activities or have an idea for a new one please contact the program at (608) 262-4932 or ntp@mailplus.wisc.edu to speak with Heidi Neeley, NTP Outreach Specialist.
