Neuroscience students share “brainy” ideas

Scouts handle sheep brains and learn neuroanatomy under the direction of Ellen McGlinchey ´07 and Natalie Paris ´07.

When Natalie Paris ’07 was a girl, she really wanted to become a doctor but she became discouraged in high school chemistry. Then, she came to Connecticut College and decided to give science another chance.

Today, she is one of 15 neuroscience students at CC who are eagerly involved in introducing the world of science to children. “Working at the neuroscience fair was one of the most interesting and rewarding things I did last semester,” Paris said.

The fair, which was held in December, was a “learning through teaching” community service project organized by Joseph Schroeder, visiting assistant professor of psychology. It brought 70 Cub and Girl scouts and children from the Drop-In Learning Center in New London and surrounding towns to campus to judge the CC students’ work.

Working with three other CC students, Paris chose “gross anatomy” and showed the children rat, sheep and human brains and helped them make brain caps and helped them color their own wearable swim cap, or, brain map.

“The brain is one of the most important parts of the body, but most people have never seen an actual brain,” Paris said. “I hadn’t until I got to college and dissected a brain in first-year biology. Many of the girls, like me when I was younger, said they were interested in becoming a doctor or a nurse. After handling the brains, some said they might have to reconsider their career. But all of them were enthralled with seeing an actual sheep brain, since brains tend to be hidden away in skulls.

“Anything that gets kids interested in science at an early age is great because an interest in the world will carry them through life, no matter what they decide to do.”