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Welcome to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter.
In this issue:
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Neuroscience for Kids had several new additions in March including:
A. March Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news2503.html
B. New Neuroscience in the News
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/inthenews.html
C. New infographics and games have been developed in collaboration with Craig Selinger, M.S. (Learning Specialist, Themba Tutors):
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The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for April is "Northwest Noggin" at:
Northwest Noggin was established in 2012 by Portland State University neuroscientist Bill Griesar and artist Jeff Leake. For almost a decade, Bill, Jeff and many volunteer students have shared their knowledge and passion for neuroscience with thousands of people. The Northwest Noggin web site is full of material for anyone interested in neuroscience education and outreach. Head over to the RESOURCES link to find ready-to-go neuroscience projects with detailed instructions, photographs and videos to help you work through an activity. The organization's blog (NOGGIN BLOGGIN) is updated regularly with information about upcoming events, art projects and news.
The Northwest Noggin team has made many visits to schools to speak with students. More recently they have connected with people virtually via Zoom. For example, last month, in celebration of Brain Awareness Week, Northwest Noggin hosted their annual Noggin Fest virtually. The Northwest Noggin web site is a place to revisit frequently because the organization is very active and they post new materials often.
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Because of COVID-19 health and safety concerns, activities for Brain Awareness Week (BAW) at the University of Washington were held virtually last month. This year for BAW, 406 students in grade 2 through 12 joined me for webinar and panel discussion. Although most of the students were from the Seattle area, some students attended schools in Texas, New York, Wisconsin, Kentucky and even Argentina.
I opened the BAW event with an interactive introduction to neuroscience. Following this presentation, a panel of six neuroscientists joined the webinar to answer students' questions. On the panel were University of Washington faculty members Rajesh Rao, Chet Moritz, and Eric Shea-Brown, and graduate students Holly Hake, Samantha Sun and Theodros (Teddy) Haile. The panel answered questions that were sent in prior to the start of the webinar. The panel did not have time answer all of the students' questions, but you can see a complete list of the questions here:
https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/BAW2021QA.pdf
Although this year's virtual BAW event was successful, I look forward to next year when students and teachers can visit the University of Washington campus for an in-person BAW Open House.
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A few people have asked me recently if I have an Instagram site. The answer is "Yes" and you are welcome to visit or follow this site at: https://www.instagram.com/ericchudler/
I hope you enjoy this new material.
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A. "COVID can cause forgetfulness, psychosis, mania or a stutter" and "Detecting Alzheimer's gets easier with a simple blood test" (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN HEALTH & MEDICINE, April 2021).
B. "Embracing the Singularity" (DISCOVERY magazine, March/April 2021).
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A. "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." --- Benjamin Franklin, 1758 (in Poor Richard's Almanack)
B. Singer Tony Bennett (born 1926) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
C. The amygdala is a part of the brain important for emotional behavior, memory, anxiety and fear. “Amygdala” is also the name of an enemy of Batman and first appeared in a 1992 comic book.
D. Dr. Nora Volkow is the current director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health. She is also the great-granddaughter of Leon Trotsky (1879 – 1940), the Russian Marxist revolutionary leader.
E. You may have been sleeping and missed it, but March 15, 2021, was National Napping Day.
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to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter, send e-mail to Dr. Eric H.
Chudler at: chudler@u.washington.edu
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Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter and the "Neuroscience for Kids" web site are always welcome. If there are any special topics that you would like to see on the web site, just let me know.
Eric
Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D.