Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1

FUN Newsle er Too much FUN to handle... Faculty for June, 2014 Volume 2, Issue 1 Undergraduate From the president: Future neuroscien sts? Neuroscience Jeﬀ Smith, Ph.D., Current President— Saginaw Valley State University Inside this issue: Grant wri ng 2 exercise (Wright) ERIN resources 3 Get involved 4 with Nu Rho Psi Before I begin to outline my concerns and challenges, let me ﬁrst assure you all that I fully subscribe to the "follow your passion and your voca on will present itself to you" (Mickley) Stop-Mo on My ini al inten on for submission to the summer edi on of our bi-yearly newsle er was to compose a simple, "From the desk of the president..." type of essay, highligh ng our excellent programs (such as the student travel award, equipment loan program, brain awareness week poster award, etc) and encouraging all to consider a ending the upcoming FUN workshop in Ithaca, August 1-3. However, lately I have been thinking about issues facing our students as we mentor them into neuroscience and how, by encouraging them to pursue their interests and follow their passions, we may be placing them on a path that might not lead to the same successes and opportuni es that we, the past genera ons of scien sts, have had. Con nued on page 9... 5 Modeling Exer- Bug Brains: Invertebrate nervous systems for outreach cise (Johnson & David R. Andrew, Pert Postdoctoral Fellow — University of Arizona Leland) Listserv how to 5 Bug brains con- 6 nued When most people think about neuroscience research, insects and other invertebrates are not the ﬁrst animals that come to mind as research subjects. Indeed, the fact that insects and other invertebrate animals even have nervous systems is o en a revela on to non-neuroscien sts (and, unfortunately, some young aspiring neuroscien sts). Yet, there are innumerable examples where the study of nervous systems in insects and their invertebrate kin have provided invaluable insights into fundamental principles of neuroscience. These animals can also provide a crea ve, engaging, and cost-eﬀec ve way to educate the public about neuroscience research through interacCon nued on page 6... FUN educators 7 FUN Educators of the Year Award Statement con nued President’s 9 desk con nued Call for Submiissions 10 Michael G. Ruscio, Ph.D. & Chris Korey, Ph.D. — College of Charleston Thank you to members of FUN for the unexpected honor of being named FUN Educators of the Year. It is truly humbling to be recognized in this way by an organizaon that is full of equally accomplished educators. We feel extremely fortunate for the encouragement and guidance we have received from our FUN colleagues over the years; not only in regard to our study abroad program, but to our overall career development. FUN has been a source of inspira on for both of us. We also owe a debt of gra tude to our collaborators in Germany and the intrepid and enthusias c students who we have been fortunate enough to get to know through this program. Perhaps the most gra fying aspect of receiving this award is its recogni on of what has become one of the most enjoyable and rewarding endeavors we have undertaken as academCon nued on page 7...