Story Published: Mar 12, 2010 at 9:39 AM PST
Story Updated: Mar 12, 2010 at 10:17 AM PST
The kids explored booths put together by WSU science students and could even hold a real human brain. It was all part of the Palouse Kids Judge! Neuroscience Fair put on by WSU's Program in Neuroscience.
"It's smaller than I thought it was," said Glover Middle School 7th grader Chris Fortner. "I thought it was bigger than that. I guess not. It's small."
"We are learning about the brain, how it works and how it processes all of our thoughts and works our body,' said Chase Middle School 7th grader Jordyn Willis.
The kids went from booth to booth scoring them. Neuroscience professor Dr David Rector said this is a great training activity for the WSU students as well middle schoolers.
"Our goal is primarily to teach my students how to talk to the public about their science, which is one of the most important aspects of this," said Rector. "If science is to continue to get funding, scientists need to be able to tell the public why they need to do their science and what their results are."
Rector said it's also a great way for the kids to see science role models in the college students.
"I want to be a marine biologist when I grow up," said Fortner.
"I want to be a forensic scientist," said Willis. "If that doesn't work out for me then I'd also like to be a basketball player."
Besides the brain, there were displays on eyes and hearing and other topics. Rector said his students really get a lot out of this fair.
"They get to learn the material much better because they are teaching the topic to the kids rather than just listening to me doing lecture, not as interesting as trying to teach it themselves," said Rector.
