Sunday with a Scientist to focus on brain's inner workings

The University of Nebraska State Museum’s March Sunday with a Scientist program for children and families will explore how scientists uncover the inner workings of the brain with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior. The program will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 13 at Morrill Hall, south of 14th and Vine streets.

Steven Barlow, professor and associate director of CB3, with associate professors Michael Dodd and Anne Schutte and assistant professors Ingrid Haas, Matthew Johnson, Maital Neta and Jeffrey Stevens, will lead visitors in a variety of hands-on activities to learn more about brain function.

Children will be able to experience a patterned touch using the GALILEO Somatosensory Stimulator; demonstrations of electroencephalography, used to measure the electrical activity of the brain and electrodermal activity; and sweat gland activity, which tells us about the emotions people experience.

Other activities include discovering similarities and differences between bird and mammal brains while learning more about the research on bird cognition conducted at the Avian Cognition Lab at UNL. Visitors can take part in a demonstration of eye-tracking equipment that allows scientists to see how eyes help take in information from all kinds of interesting images.

CB3 is supported in part by the UNL Office of Research and Economic Development, the Nebraska Research Initiative, Epic Medical Concepts and Innovations, Inc., of Mission, Kansas, the National Institutes of Health and the Barkley Trust Foundation.

Sunday with a Scientist is a series of presentations that highlight the work of scientists, while educating children and families on a variety of topics related to science and natural history. Presenters share scientific information in a fun, informal way through demonstrations, activities or by conducting science on site.

For more information on the program, including upcoming topics, click here.

Established in 1871, the University of Nebraska State Museum is the state’s premier museum of natural history. The museum is focused on promoting discovery in natural science; fostering scientific understanding and interpretation of the Earth’s past, present and future; and enhancing stewardship of the natural and cultural heritage of Nebraska through world-class exhibits, collections and special events.