Community

ASCEND

ASCEND (Advancing STEM: Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery) is a four-year program, designed to showcase the promise and progress of brain science.

Taps the energy and intellect of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral neuroscience trainees associated with FAU Brain Institute labs, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience to excite and inspire future neuroscientists currently in middle or high school.

ASCEND incorporates classroom and lab visits, hands-on and virtual reality demonstrations and the development of digital and web-based educational content.

Brain Institute collaboration with Cox Science Center

The Brain Institute’s collaboration with the Cox Science Center led to the new permanent exhibit, Journey Through the Human Brain. The exhibit immerses visitors with an in-depth look at the structure and function of the human brain and how it communicates with our senses to create our thoughts and emotions.

The exhibit, while “kid friendly”, exposes more mature visitors to more advanced concepts including disorders of the human brain, adverse childhood experiences that can impact the healthy brain, and keys to a healthy brain life. The exhibit highlights the ground-breaking scientific research being pursued in Palm Beach County at the FAU Brain Institute, the Max Planck Florida Institute for neuroscience, and Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute.

Brainy Days

Every year, the Brain Institute hosts “Brainy Days” during the month of March. It is celebration of neuroscience that features free community lectures hosted by many of our researchers and community partners that are committed to promoting brain wellness and reducing the stigma associated with brain disorders.

“Brainy Days” exemplifies FAU’s commitment to providing the community with the knowledge needed to maintain brain health and lower one’s risk for brain diseases. Our scientists are committed to conducting world-class research, developing cutting-edge technologies, and training the next generation of neuroscientists.