____________________________________________________________
Welcome to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter.
In this issue:
1. What's New at Neuroscience for Kids
A. April Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news184.html
In April, 14 pages were modified.
__________________________________________________________
http://yourbrainhealth.com.au/brain-knitting/
Neural Knitworks? Is that spelled correctly? Yes, it is. Neural Knitworks is a project to help people learn about neuroscience while they knit or crochet neurons. The site is part of a larger resource created by Dr. Sarah McKay, a neuroscientist who now works as a science communicator.
At Neural Knitworks you will find patterns necessary to make textile neurons such as pyramidal neurons and stellate neurons. If you do not know how to knit, there is a "no-knit" neuron you can create. Neurons made by other people are displayed on the project's Facebook web site.
If you have extra time, use the navigation bar at the top of Neural
Knitwords to explore Dr. McKay's web site in more detail. I especially
recommend that you visit the "Meet the Neuroscientists" page.
__________________________________________________________
The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE), the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education, and NanoRacks LLC are inviting school districts to participate in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). SSEP Mission 7 to the International Space Station will provide participants with a real research mini-laboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment. The mini-lab will fly to the International Space Station in Spring 2015. When the lab returns to Earth, the data from the experiment will be analyzed.
Student teams must submit research proposals which are then reviewed and selected to move forward. The design competition takes place between September 8 to November 7, 2014. Perhaps you can think of a neuroscience project to send into space.
The SSEP is open to schools in the United States and school districts serving grade 5 through 12 students, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, and informal science education organizations. Outside the United States, people can participate through the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education. SSEP is not designed for an individual class or a small number of students in a community.
For more information about the SSEP, see:
http://ssep.ncesse.org/
__________________________________________________________
For more information about the danger of toad venom to pets, see:
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/toads/
http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/toxicity/c_dg_toad_venom_toxicosis
__________________________________________________________
Campers take part in simple electrophysiology and neuropharmacology experiments. They dissect a sheep brain, use computer simulation to dissect a human brain, study the nervous system in the college cadaver lab and record the electrical activity of their own brains among many other activities. Northwestern Neuroscience Camp also includes a field trip to the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine to visit 6 active neuroscience labs doing research that span the field from molecules and genes through cells, neural circuits and animal behavior; participants also take a tour of the Imaging Facility (CT, MRI scanners) at the area hospital to learn about brain imaging.
"Neuroscience at the Movies" and various recreational activities are planned for campers' evenings.
The deadline to apply for the camp is May 14, 2014. For more information about the camp including details about activities, testimonials, costs, housing, and an application form, see:
http://www.nwciowa.edu/biology/neuroscience/camp
__________________________________________________________
B. The May 2014 issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MIND magazine cover story is "The Science of Memory." This magazine has articles about memory, amnesia, cameras, and stem cell therapy.
C. "Inside Animal Minds" is a three part PBS NOVA TV series that aired last month. The three episodes focus on birds, dogs, and the "smartest" animals. The programs can be viewed online at:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/inside-animal-minds.html
D. "Is Anybody in There?" by Adrian M. Owen (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, May, 2014) discusses communicating with people who appear to lack consciousness.
E. "Mind Craft" by David Noonan (SMITHSONIAN magazine, May, 2014) has a great description of deep brain stimulation surgery.
F. "Captain Cook's Poison" by Mark Siddall (NATURAL HISTORY magazine,
April, 2014) discusses how tetrodotoxin and ciguatoxin (neurotoxins found
in fish and algae) have made their way into our food chain.
__________________________________________________________
B. Medical scientists, including neuroscientists, had a median pay in 2012 of $76,980/year.
C. Employment of medical scientists is expected to grow 13% from 2012 to 2022.
D. 103,100 medical scientists were employed in 2012.
E. 13,700 jobs for medical scientists are expected to be added between 2012 and 2022.
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Medical Scientists:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm)
_________________________________________________________
Help Neuroscience for Kids
_________________________________________________________
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)