Proposals

Abstract

Access to neuroscience research is limited by field-specific jargon, a lack of diverse perspectives, and socioeconomic barriers, reducing communication between scientists and the public, especially for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. This perpetuates systemic inequalities and hinders the impact of scientific advancements in the field. Grey Matters Journal is the University of Washington’s undergraduate neuroscience journal, founded on the belief that quality neuroscience education should be accessible to everyone. We accomplish this mission by publishing a quarterly neuroscience journal and hosting educational events, open to all who are interested. However, over the past two years, we have noticed difficulties in fulfilling our mission of accessibility. Physical and digital journal articles are often not the most effective way to educate the public about neuroscience, and physical events are limited to the individual’s travel constraints. In today’s digital and multimedia age, new educational approaches are necessary to keep up with technological advancement. Captioned audio-visual materials will make education more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Demonstrations of revolutionary neurotechnology tools, which let users record brain waves and watch technology interface with the brain, will create lasting impressions and more effectively teach users how the brain works via hands-on lessons. Podcasts and YouTube videos will provide educational content in ways that target different learning modalities, learning styles, and timing preferences (live or recorded). Live streaming and recording our events will help us further our mission of accessibility by targeting communities outside of the Puget Sound region.

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