Photos: Brown Brain Fair brings brain science to everyone

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — For Providence resident Luisa Rodriguez, planning a family outing for the weekend that was both fun and educational was a no-brainer.  With hundreds of others from Rhode Island, she filled Saturday mid-March with scientific discovery and hands-on experiments. She also learned through play at the 2023 Brown Brain Fair.

Brain Week Rhode Island was celebrated on the University’s Brown’s Engineering Research Center campus. The annual, free event brought together scientists, researchers, and volunteers from more that 28 Brown science centers and labs to give families the opportunity to learn about brain science using interactive demonstrations, hands-on exhibits, and games.

Rodriguez took part in the weekend event to entertain and inspire Gabriela Sanchez (6 years old), who has a natural curiosity about science and medicine.

Rodriguez said that Rodriguez “has always been interested in science and the human body from a young age.” Events like these can inspire her to pursue her interests further, encouraging her curiosity and to ask questions.

Family-friendly interactive demonstrations and hands on exhibits covered everything from brain anatomy to psychology. In the Hazeltine Lobby, there were dozens of booths, kiosks, and tables. Brown students and researchers, ranging in age from undergrad to postgrad, were present around the room to answer questions and share brain facts.

Children and adults were invited by BrainGate researchers to use virtual reality goggles and handle a preserved human head. They also had their brain waves measured. One station was run by BrainGate researchers and visitors could control a robotic arm using brain-computer interface technology. Other stations offered glimpses into brain microtissues and computer monitors displayed images of brain signals.

The Brown Brain Fair was last held in 2019. It is managed by the Brown Brain Bee student organization in partnership with Brown’s Carney Institute for Brain Science to inspire and educate people about the human brain.

Rachel Briggs, a Providence resident, was one of the smart bunch who attended the fair. She was there to “see our bodies inside our bodies”, but also to show her daughter Zaharae (9 years old) new ideas and potential careers in science.

Briggs said, “We don’t yet know what they’re going to do. But exposure can move things in a certain direction.” “I’m hoping that they will see something, be open to sharing it, and then use that as a springboard for what they want to do with their lives.”