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Members of the student groups Nu Rho Psi and Synapse joined students from the NEUR 130: Deadly Shape Hostage Brain course to conduct the community outreach program, which also serves as the non-traditional final exam for the course.

Since the program’s debut in 2005, more than 500 elementary-school children have traveled to campus to learn about how the brain functions and tour the College’s neuroscience lab—and meet current college students. The program is coordinated by Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Biological Sciences and Chair of Neuroscience Shubhik DebBurman.

“One of the primary goals of the outreach was to help elementary students become more excited about science and learning,” said neuroscience major Olivia Godek ’23, who serves as a peer mentor for the course. “It was truly inspiring to watch the children’s eyes light up as many of them were able to see and interact with real brain samples for the first time. As someone who aspires to become a physician, I recognize the importance of spreading scientific knowledge and educating communities about the human body.”

“It was truly inspiring to watch the children’s eyes light up,” Olivia Godek ’23 said.

The afternoon’s activities included teaching the young visitors about brain anatomy and viewing microscopy exhibits in the second-floor neuroscience lab in the Lillard Science Center. The visitors next moved to the lower-level lobby in Lillard for three hands-on teaching and learning sessions run by the Lake Forest students.

“We explained to the children basically the neuroscience behind your five senses and how your brain helps to produce all of those sensations and perceptions,” psychology and neuroscience double major Michelle Soriano ’24 said. A transfer student from College of Lake County, Soriano found the alternative final to be an enlightening experience. 

“I actually really enjoyed it,” she said. “I can definitely see how working with kids would be really rewarding.” Soriano is considering a career in clinical psychology and doing research. 

North Chicago Community Partners Director of Program Impact Lauren Glatt, who helped coordinate this year’s visit, said the Brain Lab gave the youngsters “new insights and experiences they will never forget. Many students had never visited a college or seen a lab, much less engaged with real human and animal brains. The experience also showed students what their future could look like at college and one student even said they hoped to attend Lake Forest College one day. Partnerships with organizations like Lake Forest College are what help North Chicago Community Partners bridge the gap in educational inequity.”