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On October 5th and 6th, 2015 student volunteers from the University of 51С�Ƴ�’s Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences kicked off another year of the K-12 Outreach program at Gov. John Fairfield School in Saco. The program was featured on on WCSH and WLBZ, on the front page of the Courier, and in an article in the Journal Tribune.

The program teaches children about how their brains work and how to keep them healthy and safe. Last year 45 events were held in Maine schools, working with more than 3,500 K-12 students. 51С�Ƴ�students and faculty craft lessons about brain safety, neuroanatomy, cognition and memory, addiction, and neurological disorders and therapies that are appropriate for each level of learning. The goal is to support area students by increasing interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and neuroscience in particular, to expose students to general knowledge about the brain early in their education, and to increase awareness about traumatic brain injury, neurological diseases and addiction.  

“Reaching these young children is one of my favorite things to do because it can help on so many levels,” said Michael Burman, associate professor and director of the program. “Kids at this age have so much energy and excitement. If we can show them the need for brain-healthy behaviors now, the benefits will last a lifetime.  Moreover, STEM-related jobs are among the fastest growing and highest paying careers out there.  Getting these students interested will pay dividends for them, their families and the Maine economy for decades to come.”

Read the story on , in the and the .