UNE's Brain fair makes science fun

Brain Jeopardy was one of the activities at UNE's Brain, Body and Wellness Fair on Friday. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

Maddie McDonald, Intern•

The Center for Excellence in Neurosciences at the University of New England hosted the annual the Brain, Body, and Wellness Fair on Friday.

The annual Brain Fair, now 8 years in the running, was founded in celebration of Brain Awareness Week to help engage people in brain exploration and education, according to a press release from UNE. The event typically draws hundreds of people, including local community members and students from area schools.

“A lot of how the brain works is about who we are. It’s really fascinating. And there still is a ton we don’t know about the brain. The way you learn is to explore,” said Ian Meng, the director of UNE’s Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences and Center for Pain Research.

The fair showed people of all ages what really goes on in their heads. On Friday, students, professors and scientists turned the Alfond Forum into a science museum- like experience, with several booths and hands-on activities to help break the science down.

Activities in this year's Brain Fair included an egg drop, concussion goggles, artery stack cup, and a demonstration of sound waves. At many booths, participants walked away from booths with a toy, sticker or pamphlet to take home.

Students from the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine even were able to share human brains from the medical school’s donor lab, where members of the public have donated organs after they die to help scientific research. While human organs may not be everyone's favorite thing to look at, it was hard to pull the younger kids away.

“We show them how the brain gets blood through the arteries. It's also about teaching how the body works. Children are always interested in this,” said Julia Baracewicz, a second-year student at the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Brooklynn Merrill, who graduate UNE in 2024 with a degree in Neuroscience, ran a station that showed how sound waves work using an old speaker hooked to metal trays filled with salt.

“I think it’s really good to see kids interested in science, especially kids learning through their senses, their touch and feel and hearing,” she said.

Maddie McDonald is a senior at University of New England.