Marshall University

Marshall University held the eighth annual Brain Expo on April 8th, 2016 from 9am – 2pm in the Memorial Student Center. This event is structured in a reverse science fair format with 28 stations that use hands-on activities to teach elementary school children about the brain and nervous system. Stations are presented primarily by Marshall University undergraduate students with some graduate student and faculty participation. The stations cover topics ranging from brain anatomy and neuron structure to invertebrate nervous systems and comparative behavior in primates. Marshall University is located in the heart of Appalachia and several stations address the importance of lifestyle choices regarding food, sleep and exercise in maintaining brain health. We also have an ongoing collaboration with the outreach coordinator from St. Mary’s hospital, who contributes to a brain and spinal cord safety station. Nearly 600 grade 2-6 children from nine local schools, teachers and parent volunteers attended this year’s event. Over 150 Marshall University students and faculty volunteers presented the stations. The major goals of the program are to educate children about the function and importance of the nervous system, to encourage lifestyle choices for brain health and to spark an interest in science at an early age to facilitate recruitment to STEM fields. Feedback from the children, teachers and volunteers who attended was overwhelmingly positive.

We continue to receive very positive feedback from the children, their teachers, and the Marshall University volunteers. Each year, we fill to capacity and must turn some school groups away. We also expand our efforts by performing school visits later in the spring semester. The annual Brain Expo has developed into one of the most significant public education programs at Marshall University.