Kafui Dzirasa, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Neurobiology, Duke University

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Dr. Dzirasa

When

All Day, Feb. 9, 2023

Professor Kafui Dzirasa will be visiting the Ricoy Lab all day Thursday, February 9th to learn about the NEURON initiative.  The NEURON initiative (Neuroscience Education in Undergraduate Research, Outreach, and Networking) is a free program engaging first year and second year College Students (many of them underrepresented minority (URM) students) in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NSCS) at the University of Arizona. It builds on former Grass Foundation-sponsored workshops ran by Dr. Ricoy implementing hands-on and cultural responsive active learning curriculum via low-cost equipment from Backyard Brains.

Our results demonstrate a greater connection to neurophysiology curriculum and learning outcomes as well as a strong effect from the facilitation of mentorship by underrepresented students. The use of an inclusive mentoring model, rather than a deficit model, has brought forth a clear effect on students’ attitudes of science. Reviewing current and past programs, we have examined attitudes towards science in over 100 students (i.e., survey participants). We have served over 300 students in Arizona and New Mexico. Overall, more than 90% of the participants surveyed are URM students, suggesting a strong positive shift in science identity as the result of low-cost neuroscience mentoring experiences.”

Dr. Dzirasa will be joined by Julia Derk (https://cleardirectionmentoring.org/leadership) as they are forging a national coalition of STEM / Neuro mentoring to BIPOC populations.

Leadership — Clear Direction Mentoring

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cleardirectionmentoring.org

Contacts

Ulises Ricoy