Past Outreach Events

**To see more pictures of our events, please visit our Facebook page!!**

2017

PNCA Neuroimaging tour @ OHSU - February 2017

Hosted 20 undergraduates from the Pacific Northwest College of Art. We provided a brief lecture on different neuroimaging techniques such as functional MRI, the physics and biological principles underlying the methods, and how the methods are put to research applications in the Fair lab. This was followed up by a tour of the Advanced Imaging Research Center where MR physicists gave a tour of the MR scanners, further solidifying the concepts picked up in the preceding lecture.  


OMSI Brain Fair 2017 - March 2017

YES! and the clinical ASD/ADHD team hosted a table at OMSI for the fifth year. This year our teams brought along Mindflex and 'dancing cockroach' demos to stimulate discussion of brain imaging techniques and their applications, and a practical demonstration of neural communication, respectively. 


Northwest Youth Career Expo - March 2017

Our YES! team had a chance to interact with hundreds of high school students (and their teachers) in an effort to promote the students to consider careers in neuroscience, and STEM generally. Our 'dancing cockroach' demo was featured once again, making our booth one of the more popular stations. Students had a chance to hear about the different trajectories that have led us neuroscientists to our current juncture.


Teacher Workshop Resource Fair @ OHSU -  March 2017

YES! had an opportunity to promote our outreach efforts to teachers in the Portland Area. These connections have been crucial in YES! spreading its reach into Portland classrooms. 


Brain in a Box outreach @ Highland Park Middle School - April 2017

Spent two Friday afternoons with fifteen 7th graders at Highland Park middle school. Students received interactive lectures discussing brain structure and function, with a special focus on characteristics of adolescent brain and behavior, and the effects on the brain of alcohol and drug use, nutrition, sleep, and exercise. 


Career Fair @ Reynolds Middle School - April 2017

YES! visited Reynolds Middle School and had a conversation with about 30 middle school students about the cool day-to-day life of a neuroscientist, the variety of career options that a background in neuroscience can open doors to, and the different types of trajectories that can lead to a career in neuroscience. 


Music & the Brain @ Franklin High School in partnership with NW NOGGIN. -  April 2017

YES! partnered with NW NOGGIN to spend a morning at Franklin High talking to about 30 students about the brain in general, the different types of research that we conduct in our respective labs etc. One of highlights of the visit was a live demonstration of EEG brain activity as student volunteers were listening to music. We also brought along human brains to stimulate the conversation. 


OHSU Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI) - Spring 2017

Mentored a high school student in critiquing and presenting a peer-reviewed scientific article as well as in designing and writing a research paper. 


'Take your child to work' day @ OHSU - April 2017

YES! hosted about ten 4th graders who had a chance to visit the Fair lab, see some cool brain pictures and videos, and receive pipe-cleaner neuron models and mini foam brain models to take home. 


Brain in a Box outreach @ Holy Cross Catholic School -  May 2017

YES! spent two class sessions @ Holy Cross Catholic School delivering interactive Brain in a Box lectures to 15 seventh graders. Discussions spanned brain structure and function, the unique capacities and properties of the adolescent brain, and the effects on the (adolescent) brain of alcohol and drug use, nutrition, exercise and healthy sleep habits.


Jefferson High School Science Fair - May 2017

Spent a lunch hour hosting a table at Jefferson High Science Fair. We talked brains, research, and neuroscience careers.


BUILD/EXITO mentor panel - June 2017

As a BUILD/EXITO research mentor, YES co-director Binyam spent a morning serving on a mentor panel at Portland State University discussing experiences in the mentor-mentee relationship. 


Summer Academy to Inspire Learning @ OHSU - July 2017

YES! hosted 12 ninth graders for a week-long summer camp at OHSU. Read about their experience here.


Brain in a Box Outreach @ Mt. Tabor Middle School - October 2017

YES! spent two Friday mornings at Mt. Tabor Middle School interacting with 7 students from Mt. Tabor middle school who were deaf or hard of hearing. We delivered an interactive lecture about the structure and function of a neuron, followed by our 'dancing cockroach' demo to provide a concrete example of nerve signalling. 



2016

PNCA Senses, Brain & Body Class Visit - March 2016

Provided a Brain-in-a-Box-style presentation on the brain to undergraduates at Pacific Northwest College of Art


OMSI Brain Fair - March 2016

YES! hosted a table at the OMSI Brain Fair for the fourth time, along with a table hosted by our clinical ADHD/ASD team. Our groups interacted with hundreds of students, parents, and teachers discussing the developmental neuroscientific research in our lab. Our tables also included interactive and fun educational activities such as the use of prism goggles to simulate the effects of alcohol on the nervous system.


OHSU Partnership for Scientific Inquiry - Spring/Summer 2016

Provided mentorship to two high school students in critiquing and presenting peer-reviewed scientific research, as well as writing research papers.


Brain in a Box Outreach at Highland Park Middle School - April 2016

Provided interactive lectures about the brain in general (visit 1) and the workings of the adolescent brain (visit 2). Our lectures discussed the negative effects on the adolescent brain of alcohol and drug use, as well as the positive effects of proper sleep, nutrition, and physical exercise habits.


Career advising at Roosevelt High School - May 2016

Spent an afternoon talking with Roosevelt High School students and teachers describing typical and not-so-typical trajectories leading to careers in neuroscience, as well as STEM careers in general.


Brains & Art outreach at Jefferson High School in partnership with NW NOGGIN - May 2016

Spent two hours at Jefferson High School, along with members of the NW NOGGIN outreach group, providing an interactive real human brain exhibition, using pipe cleaners to build and discuss the structure and function of a neuron, and discussing a broad range of other neuroscience topics.


Brains & Art outreach at Skyview High School in partnership with NW NOGGIN - May 2016

Spent 3 days at Skyview High School providing interactive neuroscience education to multiple science classes on topics ranging from discussion of brain structure and function, effects of drugs and alcohol on the nervous system, and the neural basis of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our group also provided interactive real brain exhibits, pipe cleaners to build neurons, and using other art media to learn about the brain through art. 


Summer Academy to Inspire Learning @ OHSU - July 2016

YES! hosted our third annual SAIL tour at OHSU. 30 high-school freshmen spent 4 days at OHSU touring several research labs  and clinical facilities including a tour of the VirtuOHSU Surgical Simulation Lab, the Human Performance Labs, the Advanced Imaging Research Center, the OHSU School of Dentistry, and the engineering behind the Portland Aerial Tram. 


South Portland Health and Safety Fair - August 2016

Spent an afternoon discussing the YES! outreach efforts and research in the Fair Neuroimaging Lab  with parents and teachers.


Brain in a Box outreach at Roosevelt High School  - October 2016

Provided an interactive Brain in a Box lecture to 15 high school students.


The Art and Neuroscience of Change in partnership with NW NOGGIN @ Portland Art Museum - October 2016

Spent an afternoon at the Portland Art Museum discussing the research and outreach efforts of the Fair Neuroimaging Lab with members of the business community in the greater Portland Area.


Mini Med School @ OHSU - November 2016

YES! collaborated with several student groups at OHSU, including students from the Global Health and Urban Underserved College, the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), and the Portland Alcohol Research Center (PARC) to host over 120 middle and high school students from the Portland Area for a day of "mini med school". YES! hosted a table with a "dancing cockroach" demo featuring electrodes implanted in a cockroach leg to record/view action potential generated when stimulating the hair cells on a cockroach leg, as well as using music-induced currents to drive movements in the cockroach leg (hence the dancing cockroach)

2015

OMSI Brain Fair -  March 2015

For the 3rd year, YES! hosted a table, along with the ADHD/ASD team providing information to students, parents, and teachers about the research we conduct at the Fair Neuroimaging Lab. Our tables also included interactive activities such as Mindflex, an EEG-based technology that uses brain waves to move a styrofoam ball, and a prism goggle experiment to simulate the effects of alcohol on the nervous system. 

PNCA Senses, Brain & Body Class Visit - April 2015

Provided a Brain in a Box-styled interactive presentation to undergraduates at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. 


Roosevelt High School Lab Tour - April 2015

Provided a lab tour to 12 students from Roosevelt High School


Summer Academy to Inspire Learning @ OHSU - July 2015

In partnership with PSU faculty, YES! hosted our annual SAIL tour to 30 high-school freshmen who attended a three-day tour of OHSU clinical and research facilities and laboratories. 

2014

OMSI Brain Fair – March 2014

For the 2nd year, YES! had a table at the OMSI Brain Fair, along with a table for the ASD/ADHD Study. We handed out information on our current studies, as well as provided fun with the Mind Flex game and prism goggles for people to put on while trying to catch a small squishy toy brain.

Brain Fair 2014  

 

Bridges to Success Lego Robotics Team Lab Tour - March 2014

Provided lab tours to 10 members of the Lego Robotics team. 

St. Andrews Nativity School Curriculum Fair - April 2014

Marguerite and Kamari attended the curriculum fair to promote the YES! outreach efforts to teachers.


Summer Academy to Inspire Learning @ OHSU - June 2014

YES!, in partnership with volunteer faculty at Portland State University, hosted our annual SAIL tour. 25 9th graders, largely from underrepresented minority populations, attended the 3-day tour of several OHSU clinical and research facilities. 


OHSU Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI) - Summer 2014

Provided mentorship to two high school students in critiquing and presenting peer-reviewed scientific research papers, as well as in writing research papers.

 
Rosemary Anderson High School ADHD Workshop - October 2014

Provided a workshop for teachers at Rosemary Anderson High School to hear from experts on ADHD research.

2013

North Marion Middle School OHSU visit (Pt. 1) – December 2013

First group of 77 middle school students (plus 14 adult chaperones) from North Marion MS (Aurora, OR) came to visit OHSU for a full day. The students received a tour of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC), heard the PARC alcohol presentation, learned about the teenage brain with Brain-in-a-Box, and went on the aerial tram to the waterfront and back.

North Marion Middle School OHSU visit (Pt. 2) – December 2013

A second group of 54 middle school students (plus 10 adult chaperones) from North Marion MS (Aurora, OR) came to visit OHSU for a full day. The students received a tour of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC), heard the PARC alcohol presentation, learned about the teenage brain with Brain-in-a-Box, surgical skills lab and went on the aerial tram to the waterfront and back.

Jason Lee SUN School "Braaains!!!" – December 2013

11 students from Jason Lee MS's "Braaains!!!" program came to OHSU for an Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) tour.

 

Harrison Park SUN School "Braaains!!!" - December 2013

9 students from Harrison Park MS's "Braaains!!!" program came to OHSU for an Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) tour.

 

Brain-in-a-Box: Ockley Green School 7-8 grade – October 2013

Kamari and Marguerite visited 7th and 8th grade science classes (4 periods) to teach BiB and discuss research and STEM-related careers.

 

Sabin SUN School "Braaains!!!" – August 2013

15 middle school students from the Sabin Sun School "Braaains!!!" program came up to OHSU to due lab tours of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC).

 

SAIL @ OHSU – July 2013

YES! hosted the SAIL (Summer Academy to Inspire Learning ) summer program at OHSU for 3 days (7/16-7/18). Students had the opportunity to learn about the brain and how researchers at OHSU study it (through lab tours and interactive seminars), meet with surgeon trainees and participate in the VirtuOHSU surgical skills simulation lab, and visit the OHSU primate center.

 

ADHD/Autism Info Session @ Highland Christian Center – May 2013

Dr. Fair, Dr. Joel Nigg, Dr. Eric Fombonne, and Ms.  Danette Haynes discussed ADHD, Autism and mental health with adults at Highland Christian Center. YES! volunteers held educational brain activities with youth aged 5-17.

 

Brain-in-a-Box: King School, 6-8 grade – March 2013

Kamari, Marguerite and Damien visited 6-8th grade science classes (3 periods) to teach with BiB and discuss research and STEM-related careers.

 

OMSI Brain Fair – March 2013

YES! had a table at the OMSI Brain Fair, along with a table for the ASD/ADHD Study. We handed out information on our current studies, as well as provided fun with the Mind Flex game and prism goggles for people to put on while trying to catch a small squishy toy brain.

 

Grant HS Workshop on Alcohol & Athletic Performance – March 2013

FNL staff and YES! volunteers helped Dr. Mark Rutledge-Gorman of OHSU PARC (Portland Alcohol Research Center) with an event on alcohol use and abuse at Grant High School for student athletes.

 

OHSU Job Shadow – March 2013

Two 13yo boys spent the day with FNL and got a chance to speak with each lab member about their research projects. The boys toured the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC), did mock scans similar to research participants, and some behavioral tasks used in our ASD study. The boys also helped FNL prepare for the OMSI Brain Fair the following day.

 

On Track OHSU! @ OHSU w/ Woodburn HS – February 2013

Kamari, Marguerite and Jeff presented on "the nervous system" for OHSU On Track's Body Systems Visit. Students learned about EEG and how it's used to study brain function. Students got to apply what they learned about EEG in the brain game "Mind Flex" - which uses "brain waves" to steer a styrofoam ball through an obstacle course.

 

OHSU Center for Diversity & Inclusion Health, Science & Engineering Career Conference – February 2013

High school and college participants went on a tour of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) to see how researchers use MRI to study the brain.

 

On Track OHSU! @ OHSU w/ Jefferson HS – February 2013

Kamari, Marguerite and Jeff presented on "the nervous system" for OHSU On Track's Body Systems Visit. Students learned about EEG and how it's used to study brain function. Students got to apply what they learned about EEG in the brain game "Mind Flex" - which uses "brain waves" to steer a styrofoam ball through an obstacle course.

 

Brain-in-a-Box: Reynolds MS 7th Grade Science Classes – February 2013

Kamari, Marguerite and Joanne Brown visited 7th grade science classes (3 periods) for a Brain-in-a-Box presentation.

 

 

Lab Tour: EMBODI &Delta GEMs – February 2013

Students from the EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) and the Delta GEMS (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully) programs came to OHSU to due lab tours of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) and the ADHD research physiology lab.

 

2012

 

Lab Tour: Sabin SUN School "Braaains!!!" – November 2012

Students from the Sabin Sun School "Braaains!!!" program came to OHSU for lab tours of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) and the ADHD research physiology lab.

 

Sabin 2012 Lab Tour

Lab Tour: SAIL @ PSU – July 2012

Students from Portland State's Summer Academy to Inspire Learning (SAIL) came to OHSU for lab tours of the Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) and the ADHD research physiology lab.