| Tri-Annual Special Edition
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Welcome to IMPACT. Impact is defined as both a strong effect on someone or something AND the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another. This new bi-annual newsletter will showcase the community engagement activities of the Neuroscience and Behavior program that are contributing to impact in our region. Each newsletter will showcase aspects of our community engagement programming across the Michiana region and highlight the science communication, collaboration, and community partnership that are seeds of collective community impact. As we grow the program, we will continue to invite your participation as well.
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The Mission of the University of Notre Dame pledges to our students and community that we are "an environment of teaching and learning that fosters the development in its students of those disciplined habits of mind, body, and spirit that characterize educated, skilled, and free human beings. In addition, the University seeks to cultivate in its students not only an appreciation for the great achievements of human beings, but also a disciplined sensibility to the poverty, injustice, and oppression that burden the lives of so many. The aim is
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to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice." Living into this Mission requires educational experiences to extend beyond classroom learning, and incorporate strategies that turn disciplinary ideas into constructive actions. We are committed to creating curricular opportunities that embed engagement and partnership experiences across the curricular arc. The IMPACT newsletter intends to share strengths of our partnerships, and also invite others to consider how they might engage in expanding their disciplinary or pedagogical practices towards developing one's ability to use their education in service to justice. We are always here to support questions, curiosities and ideas, so please always, speak up.
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(neuro)Science in Society Impact Summit |
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The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is the largest international organization of neuroscientists, and SfN Chapters are charged with making contributions "to advancing science education and advocate for public policies that support neuroscience research". In keeping with our University and curricular goals of turning disciplinary ideas into constructive action, the primary focus of the Michiana SfN Chapter is science education, engagement and partnerships that contribute to collective impact and evidence-based policy. We held our inaugural meeting in the spring of 2023, bringing campus and community members together, working towards developing models of community-centered practice. Our inaugural meeting was a great success and we look forward to further progress this coming spring. Mark your calendars for the 2024 Summit on April 12th.
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What the heck is a Brain Ambassador, anyway? |
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In the fall of 2023, Notre Dame Neuroscience and Behavior launched their Brain Ambassadors program- a curricular effort that allows students to sustainably engage in (neuro)science translation in partnership with our broader community. Students spend class time learning how to lead fun, hands-on brain awareness activities, and also create new resources to build science communication strategies. Class time prepares students to then go into the community, where small and large groups of Brain Ambassadors actively participate in hands-on science education, community engagement and, through our consistency over time, can actively contribute to building community trust in science. Community organizations request visits directly from students and Brain Ambassadors also participate in community events like Science Alive and Art Cafe. Brain Ambassadors are also responsible for spearheading broader Brain Awareness events like the Brain Bee and our annual Brain Awareness Fair. In April of 2023, our Brain Ambassadors organized over 20 different hands-on activities, nearly 50 volunteers, and built relationships with nearly 200 community members. The annual Brain Awareness Fair is scheduled for April 6th at Howard Park Events Center in South Bend, and our inaugural Brain Bee competition is scheduled for April 12th - keep an eye out for your opportunity to get engaged!
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| Curricular Community-Engagement |
Did you know there are multiple courses offered through the NSBH major that offer an intentional, disciplinary, community-based problem solving? Developmental Neuroscience is one example of a community-based learning course that leverages the evidence base of developmental and experience dependent plasticity towards community problem solving. Throughout the semester, students had the opportunity to work with community partners engaged with the regional Self-Healing Communities of Great Michiana network. With organizational guidance, student teams translated foundational principles of nervous system development and species expectant experiences towards mobilizing the evidence base of neuroscience to address local needs. Students worked with organizations as varied as the county jail, South Bend Library, South Bend Center for the Homeless and many more. Students partnering with the Family Justice Center presented at their board meeting on the Cost of Domestic Violence in St Joseph County, giving the Director tangibles that will direct strategy development at the center moving forward. Each team presented their work to community members on December 11th at the South Bend Tech Park.
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The acronym NEAR stands for: Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience. For anyone curious about how their study of Neuroscience and Behavior can support community capacity building and collective impact across community sectors should feel encouraged to participate. Students in the NEAR Science Workshop become integral strategic partners of the regional Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana - a regional coalition rooted in the neuroscience of human resilience. Students in the Fall 2023 semester focused on the neuroscience of grief, creating a strategy framework that will be developed through S-HC of GM.
Students who take this workshop can continue engagement of CBL/CBR strategies in multiple ways. Students interested in direct community engagement and program development have an opportunity to continue engagement with the S-HC of GM as a NEAR science intern, a NEAR Science Fellow. Students interested in course/curricular-based science engagement can explore future opportunities through courses like Developmental Neuroscience, Auditory Cognition or Brain Health Community Engaged Research and can develop their own integrated research or community-capacity building efforts through collaboration with individual faculty members or CSC efforts.
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| Click the link below to learn more about Self-Healing Communities.
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Distinguished Speaker Series |
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3/22/24
Schedule TBA
Jordan Hall
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| “Manganese Exposure and Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders”
Fiona E Harrison, PhD,
Associate Professor of Medicine; Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
Director, Vanderbilt Murine Neurobehavioral Core
Co-Director, T32 Training program in Environmental Toxicology
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4/6/24
11-2 pm ET
Howard Park
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The University of Notre Dame’s Neuroscience and Behavior program has an annual Brain Awareness Fair each spring in Michiana to promote STEM disciplines, specifically neuroscience. This program is free to the community and consists of hands-on activities developed to foster public enthusiasm in the understanding of neuroscience. The event brings together Notre Dame students and Michiana families to learn about the different aspects of the brain. Some of the activities include modeling neuron structure with beads and candy, drawing brain structure on swim caps, and learning about neuroplasticity through a game.
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(neruo)Science in Society Impact Summit |
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4/12/24
Center for Civic Engagement and the Civil Rights Heritage Center
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This event will be held as a joint effort with the Civil Rights Heritage Center and the Center for Civic Innovation and will take place at their locations on Washington street. The event will start with a light breakfast around 9 AM, and close the day in the afternoon with the inaugural Brain Bee!
Details TBA
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4/12/24
Center for Civic Engagement and the Civil Rights Heritage Center
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The Brain Bee Team's goal is to explore the wonders of neuroscience! They have been holding bi-monthly workshops for students in 8th - 12th grade with topics ranging from drugs and the brain to learning and memory. At every gathering, they will have an interactive experiment and then go deeper in to the topic. In April, they will hold a Neuroscience competition to showcase what students have learned throughout the year.
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