Students from Barry’s Minority Association of Pre-health Students (MAPS) joined volunteers from the University of Miami, Nova Southeastern University, Florida International University and St. Thomas University serving as facilitators at the 4th Annual Brain Fair for Kids at the Miami Science Museum on Saturday, March 23.
The free all-day event was organized by the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. MAPS students volunteered at the neuron anatomy exhibit helping children of all ages learn about the structure and function of brain cells (neurons) by making models out of play dough, beads, and pipe cleaners. As part of the event, children (and their parents) also had the opportunity to learn about brain/spinal cord injury prevention, bike safety (including free bike helmets), and participate in additional hands-on learning opportunities such as sensory tests (visual, hearing), and electrical recordings from neurons.
Last year’s event, in which the students from MAPS also participated, hosted more than 2,000 visitors to the exhibits, more than 1,000 of whom were children – attendance at this year’s event was even higher.
MAPS is a multicultural student organization with members from undergraduate (biology, chemistry, nursing) and graduate (BMS) programs at Barry. For more information about this organization, e-mail: BarryMAPS@gmail.com and/or visit: BarryMAPS.blogspot.com.