The Puthanveettil laboratory is involved in several outreach activities. We are engaged in simplifying complex neuroscience concepts using mass media communication tools such as production of video animations, and science demonstrations for students and the public at various outreach events. We actively participate in the Scripps Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program and Keenan Fellowship program for high school students. In addition, students from neighboring institutes such as Florida Atlantic University and Florida Institute of Technology, have interned in our lab and participated in our research activities.
The following are examples of our outreach efforts:
Alzheimer’s Disease video for public awareness
Animation by: Valerio Rizzo, PhD
Puthanveettil Laboratory
Valerio Rizzo, has produced an animation to demonstrate fly through the brain and how neurons communicate with each other. We used this video in several public presentations of our research.
Production of brain awareness video
Animation by: Valerio Rizzo, PhD
Puthanveettil Laboratory
Valerio Rizzo, Research Associate has summarized our research on kinesin and memory in this video. This animation shows fly through the brain, neurotransmitter release and kinesin mediated axonal transport.
This video Kinesin: a critical mediator of long-term memory storage, was selected as one of the top ten at the Society of Neuroscience Brain Awareness video contest.
Course on “Workings of the Brain- How we remember”.
We are currently developing a course on memory and the workings of the brain for students and teachers at several of our local schools. Details on this program will be posted in the near future.
Educational Resources
We highly recommend the following websites for educational resources.
- The Official Site of the Nobel Prize – Educational
- WelcomeTrust – Educational Resources
- Society For Neuroscience – Educational Programs
- Coursera – Online Courses
- Sumanas, Inc. – Multimedia Development Services
- Biology 7th Edition – Chapter Animations
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory – DNA Learning Center – Animation Library
- UC Berkley – Biological Animations, Movies and Lectures
- Harvard University – BioVisions
- National Science Foundation – Education Discoveries
- National Institute for Health – Science Education