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HAPPY NEW YEAR from Neuroscience for Kids!
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In this issue:
A. December Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news1512.html
B. Brain Coloring Book (in Spanish)
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/colorbooksp.pdf
C. January and February 2012 NeuroCalendars
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/jan12.pdf
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/feb12.pdf
In December, 2 new figures were added and 14 pages were modified.
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http://coolsciencecareers.rice.edu
Did you know that there are many specialized careers that involve neuroscience? Have you wondered what a neurobiologist does? Or a neuroradiologist?
The "Cool Science Careers" web site provides students with the opportunity to explore several careers to see what they might be like. Yvonne Klisch, the site's designer at the Rice University Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning writes, "We designed the site to include game-like features. So many people liked our forensics web site (http://forensics.rice.edu) that replicates the work of forensic specialists, we thought neuroscience careers would be equally engaging."
Players can take an interest survey to see which career is a "best match"
for them, and then try activities typical for these careers. For example,
you can analyze results from MRIs, perform a virtual animal experiment, or
replicate a memory test. Interviews with real scientists, information
about educational requirements, and examples of related jobs complete the
web site. You can also find answers to common questions about careers in
science and submit your own questions.
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http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/contest12.html
Entries must be received by February 1, 2012!
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High School Students: The CSNE Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a ten-week (June 25-August 31) research experience for high school students. Students will receive a $5,000 stipend for their work, but must find their own housing and transportation to and from the University of Washington. For more information about the YSP, see:
http://csne-erc.org/content/young-scholars-program-ysp
Middle/High School Teachers: The CSNE Research Experience for Teachers (RET) is a seven-week (July 2-August 17) research experience for teachers. Teachers will receive a $7,000 stipend for their work, but must find their own housing and transportation to and from the University of Washington. Teachers are required to develop curricular materials based on their lab experience and use these materials in their classrooms with their students during the academic year. For more information about the RET program, see:
http://csne-erc.org/content/research-experience-teachers-ret-0
Undergraduate Students: The CSNE Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is a ten-week (June 18-August 24) research experience for college students. Students will receive a $5,000 stipend, free housing on the University of Washington campus and a $750 travel allowance to get them to and from Seattle. Students must pay for their own food expenses. For more information about the REU program, see:
http://csne-erc.org/content/research-experience-undergraduates-reu
If you have any questions about the YSP, REU or RET programs, please let
me know (chudler@u.washington.edu).
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B. "Explore Your Blind Spot" by Tom Stafford is a fun, short (9 pages), free, easy-to-understand explanation of what else but the blind spot! Available in many formats:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/110777
C. "Blood on the Ice" by Sean Gregory (TIME magazine, December 12, 2011) explores the possible connection between fighting in hockey, concussions and mental illness.
D. DISCOVER magazine recently published a special issued title "The Brain" with articles about autism, brain banks, bird brains, schizophrenia and many other topics about neuroscience.
E. The cover story in the January, 2012, issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine is "A Thing or Two About Twins" by Peter Miller. The article discusses how genes and the environment interact to make us who we are.
F. "The Compass Within" by Davide Castelvecchi (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN,
January, 2012) discusses how animals use their magnetic sense.
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http://www.worldmemorychampionship.com/index.asp
B. Psychologist William James was born on January 11, 1842; Nobel Prize-winning scientist Roger Guillemin was also born on January 11 in 1924.
C. 10% of babies develop their tactile corneal reflex in at least one eye at 2 days of age, 25% at 1 week, 50% at 3.5 weeks, 75% at 6 weeks, and 100% at 12 weeks. (Source: Snir, et al., Tactile corneal reflex development in full-term babies, Ophthalmology, 109:526-529, 2002).
D. Cranial nerves IX (glossopharyngeal), X (vagus) and XI (spinal accessory) go through the jugular foramen of the skull.
E. When it is light outside for 24 hrs each day and in temperatures of
approximately 0.8 degrees C, Emperor penguins spend 45.1% of the entire 24
hour day asleep. In alternating day/night conditions and in temperatures
between -14 degrees C and -17 degrees C, these penguins spend 41.3% of the
entire 24 hour day asleep. (Source: Buchet C, Dewasmes G, Le Maho Y., An
electrophysiological and behavioral study of sleep in emperor penguins
under natural ambient conditions, Physiology and Behavior, 38(3):331-335,
1986.)
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Help Neuroscience for Kids
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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.
(e-mail: chudler@u.washington.edu)
(URL:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html)