As neuroscientists, each of us has the privilege and responsibility to devote some of our time working as
“citizen scientists,” in order to advance public understanding of neuroscience and neuroscience research,
and to influence public science policy. Our efforts to improve the public’s understanding and appreciation of
neuroscience research can reap great benefits both for our field and for society in general through
maintained research funding, future cures, and sustained prosperity.
Please follow the links below for information on recent and upcoming outreach and advocacy activities of the
Pittsburgh neuroscience community. We encourage you to get involved in one or more of the upcoming
events. Participation in these events not only brings the satisfaction of sharing knowledge and excitement
about the brain, but also provides an excellent opportunity to act as an advocate for neuroscience research to
the public, including voters and taxpayers. If you are interested in our outreach and advocacy efforts, please contact
us at cnup@pitt.edu.
The CNUP Brain Program connects local middle and high school students with graduate- and faculty-level neuroscientists. Through in-school visits featuring presentations and demonstrations, we aim to make our work accessible to students and to increase understanding of the role of research in our community and society.
The Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition for high school students intended to foster interest in the brain and motivate students to pursue careers in neuroscience. This competition tests students’ knowledge of the brain, challenging them in topics such as intelligence, emotion, motor function, neurological disease, and more.