Building Connections

Florida Atlantic’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (SNBI) achieved another year of growth and expansion in its community engagement efforts.

Brainy Days 2024, the Institute’s annual celebration of brain science, drew a record crowd of more than 1,000 attendees across a series of events. Here’s a look at some of the keynotes they came to hear:

• The speaker lineup kicked off at SNBI, located on Florida Atlantic’s Jupiter campus, with John Cryan, Ph.D., from University College Cork in Ireland, exploring the link between brain health and the gut microbiome, revealing how people’s diet shapes who they are
• The Cox Science Center and Aquarium hosted Anjan Chatterjee, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, delving into the neuroaesthetics, uncovering the neural processes that drive perceptions of beauty
• And, David Richardson, Ph.D., founder director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a renowned expert with decades of research experience, sharing insights on the transformative power of meditation on brain health and overall well-being

Each talk was followed by a reception and book signing, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to connect with the speakers and like-minded individuals.

In addition to the Briany Days guest speaker series, the Institute hosted a range of events that showcased the intersection of art, science and community. The Ryan Licht Sang Foundation’s INSIGHTS VI exhibit transformed the SNBI auditorium into a vibrant art museum, featuring poignant artworks created by artists living with bipolar disorder. This display sparked important conversations and raised awareness about mental health, providing a unique platform for artistic expression.

In addition, the Brain Sparks event at the Cox Science Center drew more than 500 attendees for a day filled with neuroscience activities, inspiring the next generation of neuroscience explorers.

Additionally, the Institute partnered with the Mind, Music and Movement Foundation (M3F) for its Rhythms for the Brain event at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, a captivating event that combined talks, dance demonstrations and performances by the Voices of Parkinson’s Chorus.

The SNBI and the Jupiter Life Science Initiative also teamed up to host Neural Nexus: Fusing Science, Art and Creativity at SNBI, which brought together internationally renowned artist and neuroscientist Greg Dunn, Ph.D,. and author Susan Nalbantian, Ph.D., for the fusion of science, art and creativity, followed by a post-event reception.

"Through events like Brainy Days, we foster a culture of collaboration, creativity and inclusivity, ultimately driving innovation and improving lives," said Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., director of community engagement and programming at SNBI.

Community engagement efforts continued with a special pop-up Brain Sparks event at the Gardens Mall, bringing neuroscience fun to a new audience, as well as the Advancing STEM Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery (ASCEND) after-school program, NeuroExplorers returning, allowing 18 students to embark on a semester-long journey to becoming junior neuroscientists and explore the intricacies of the brain.

In culmination, the MobileMinds program made significant strides in bridging the STEM gap in Title I schools, engaging more than 6,000 students across four South Florida counties with interactive neuroscience experiences. The Institute also received a grant from the Sharron and Joseph Ashby Hubert Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward, which included funding to purchase an additional ‘brain van,’ allowing MobileMinds to extend its reach into Broward County.

"By bridging the gap between our neuroscience community, researchers, educators and the public, we can unlock a deeper understanding of the human brain and its many mysteries," Baganz said.