The Brain Bus
™
Would you like us to come to your school or event?
Email: foundation@neurotucson.com
What is the Brain Bus?
The Brain Bus is a mobile neuroscience laboratory that empowers communities and enriches the lives of Southern Arizonans. Our curriculum covers K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade education, along with adult education.
Topics include:
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Prenatal and baby brain development
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Adolescent brain development
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Nutrition
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Physical activity
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Injury prevention
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Literacy
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The aging brain
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Disease prevention
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Common clinical disorders
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and more!
Three of our board members, Abhay Sanan, MD, Nadia Fike, MD, PhD and Lynne Oland, PhD, are uniquely qualified to oversee this project. As physicians, Dr. Sanan and Dr. Fike see the effects of brain and nervous system diseases every day. As scientists, Dr. Fike and Dr. Oland have studied the cells of the brain and nervous system, as well as the functional circuits that process information, cognition, and mediate behavior.
Brain Bus Goals
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Provide a school and family-friendly setting filled with content-rich, enjoyable activities that engage K-12 student to learn about the brain health.
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Increase public awareness of the amazing capacity of the brain, how it develops, how it ages, and how to protect it.
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Create opportunities for partnerships with teachers, providers, and non-profit organizations interested in brain health, learning/education, and brain rehabilitation that will bring knowledge about the brain to the public.
New and Improved Brain Bus!
The ceiling of the Brain Bus got a facelift!
Artist: Keerthi Kurian, 2020
Previous Brain Bus Events
Pima Air and Space Museum Night Wings
June 15, 2024
The Brain Bus looked right at home, parked among the airplanes in the hangar at the Pima Air and Space Museum. Staff from Whole Foods Market joined the volunteers to lead neuroscience activities and teach 590 visitors about the brain.
Pima County Libraries
May 4, 2024 Wilmot Library
May 11, 2024 Flowing Wells Library
As part of Pima County Library's Synapse Program, the Brain Bus and dedicated volunteers were invited to provide one-hour of neuroscience activities, followed by a one-hour classroom presentation on Brain Anatomy. Adults and children participated and everyone walked away with a little more knowledge about the Brain.
JTED Healthcare Health Fair
April 20, 2024
South Tucson's Finest were stumped by the Mirror Boxes. We also met many hard working students hoping to find a future career in health care.
Sahuarita Library
April 17, 2024
It was an hour long drive for the Brain Bus, but our dedicated volunteers traveled even further - from SaddleBrooke to lead Neuroscience activities like the Stroop Test at Sahuarita Library. Adults and children enjoyed an afternoon of brain education.
All in for Autism
April 13, 2024
Our volunteers engaged with children and their parents, offering education about the brain. We even participated in the dance-a-thon with Wilbur, Wilma, and many of the other attendees.
Vail High School and Academy
April 5, 2024
Students K - 12 and their families visited the Brain Bus to try out a variety of Neuroscience Activities. These four girls were observing the "hole in the hand."
Tucson Festival of Books
March 9 - 10, 2024
The Brain Bus was at Science City on the U of A mall. Hundreds of people visited to try some of our fun neuroscience activities and learn about their amazing brains!
Be Safe Saturday
March 2, 2024
This year, the event was held at Tucson Mall, where we were showing kids and their families how to keep their brains protected and encouraging helmet wearing. Participants created "helmets" for raw eggs and we dropped them off a ladder. Many of the eggs didn't survive the fall.
Tucson Children's Museum, Family SciFest
February 17, 2024
Children young and and old flocked to the Brain Bus to enjoy the activities. Volunteers were happy to spend a beautiful day outdoors.
University of Arizona, Arizona Bowl Tailgate Festival
December 30, 2023
Football Fans from Laramie Wyoming and Toledo Ohio visited the Brain Bus to visit with volunteers and learn about the brain. We never actually made it to the Football game, but sure had a great time at the Tailgate Festival.
Whole Foods Market, River and Craycroft
January 20, 2024
The Brain Bus was parked right in front of the store for shoppers to enjoy meeting volunteers and listen to a few rounds of the Brain Bus song by the Sapiens.
Oro Valley Watermark Community
December 3, 2023
Residents, staff and family members joined our Brain Bus volunteers in the parking lot for neuroscience activities and beautiful weather.
Pima Community College NW, SARSEF STEM Adventure
November 17, 2023
Students from all over Southern Arizona were bussed to the campus for STEM Adventure. Even the security guard found something new to try.
Optum Community Center
November 15, 2023
Community Center participants took a break from the regularly scheduled activities to join the Brain Bus volunteers and learn about neuroscience.
Truly Nolen Car Show
November 11, 2023
Beautiful weather greeted the Brain Bus at the Truly Nolen Campus, where the competition for the hottest vehicle was rough. Luckily, there were also plenty of people eager to learn about the brain.
TMC Spooktacular Saturday
October 28, 2023
Costumed children and adults were excited to see the Brain Bus to try out the activities and collect some treats.
Watermark - Hacienda at the River
October 24, 2023
The Hacienda at the River invited the Brain Bus to attend their health fair. Residents, their family members and staff enjoyed meeting our volunteers and trying out some of the neuroscience activities.
Girl Scout Thin Mint Sprint
September 24, 2023
Before and after the race, girl scouts and their fans visited the Brain Bus for some Neuroscience activities to learn about the Brain. They found it challenging to high five in prism glasses.
Pima County Sheriff Department's Badges and Backpacks
June 17, 2023
Students preparing for back to school visited the Brain Bus to participate in Neuroscience activities and create a neuron to attach to their new backpacks.
