Neuroscience is an emerging field with great potential, yet it falls behind in the resources available for youth learners. Many existing programs/opportunities contain intimidating jargon or are hidden behind paywalls and higher learning institutions. When I found my passion for neuroscience during middle school, I felt lost about the next steps and wanted to create a welcoming peer-to-peer space.
Simply Neuroscience addresses the need for early access to neuroscience education through a wide range of 25 initiatives, including "The Synapse" Podcast (highlighting real-world applications), the Action Potential Advising Program (connecting students to mentors for career guidance), and Synaptic Hacks (hackathon uniting youth for innovative problem-solving). We recognize that aspiring neuroscientists have different means of engaging with the field, and we accommodate the need by providing multifaceted audio podcasts, virtual fireside chats with speakers, informal learning interviews, jargon-free visual learning resources, and more. Additionally, we partner with grassroots through global organizations to reinforce K-12 STEM education activities and empower students to pursue their interest in the brain outside of the school structure as well. Though we primarily target a youth audience, we also connect with teachers, professors, and counselors to support their students' learning.
Our efforts have directly reached 25,000 individuals from across 50 U.S. states/territories and 119 countries, while our informational social media infographics have generated 850,000+ impressions. Our Action Potential Advising Program matched 1,000+ students and professional mentors to foster professional development during the height of COVID-19, and our conferences and hackathons have consistently gathered over 1,000+ registered students. Our next steps include (1) expanding multilingual translation efforts for greater accessibility, (2) growing the recently launched Campus Brain Ambassador Network to empower students' skills as local changemakers, and (3) supporting hybrid learning to bridge the digital divide.
As an open resource platform, we pride ourselves on freely sharing our resources through our website and associated social media platforms! Please navigate to our website at https://www.simplyneuroscience.org/ and explore the various pages, ranging from a highlight of "The Synapse Podcast" to a book recommendations page. Please feel free to reach out to us via email at info@simplyneuroscience.org.
