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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE's second annual Brain Fair a success

On Friday, March 27, 2015, UNE hosted its Second Annual Brain Fair as part of National Brain Awareness Week. The morning of the fair was featured live on WCSH Channel 6’s Morning Report with additional coverage on WMTW Channel 8.

 Several UNE faculty members were interviewed regarding the event and the importance of brain safety:

  • Vice President for Research and Scholarship Edward Bilsky, Ph.D., gave an overview of national efforts around Brain Awareness Week as well as the University’s efforts in southern Maine.
  • Assistant Professor Michael Burman, Ph.D., provided additional information on UNE’s award winning K-12 Neuroscience Outreach Program and showcased some of the hands on activities and demonstrations taking place at the Brain Fair.
  • Shayne Toohey, Medical Biology, ’15, spoke about the UNE hockey team’s efforts to promote proper helmet usage in sports and recreational activities where there is a risk of head injury.
  • Chris Rizzo, M.S., A.T.C., L.A.T., C.S.C.S., associate clinical professor and clinical education coordinator gave an overview of the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), a test used to measure postural stability.

The Brain Fair was a huge success, doubling in participants from 2014 and featuring a variety of new activities: 

  • Associate Professor Lara Carlson, Ph.D., FACSM, C.S.C.S. and Motion Analysis Laboratory Manager Michael Lawrence, M.S. hooking children up to an electromyograph via surface electrodes and projecting images of their muscles firing in real time while performing movements.
  • Rizzo, along with a group of Athletic Training student volunteers, explained how postural stability can be used as a baseline measurement to diagnose concussions.
  • Frank Willard, Ph.D., professor of anatomy, and several osteopathic medical students showcased human brain and spinal cord anatomy, and led brain dissections.

These activities were integrated with the tried and true activities from last year including melon and egg drops to simulate concussions, coloring sheets, brain mazes and building pipe cleaner neurons for the younger children, as well as looking at samples of brain tissue in a microscope.

A number of UNE athletic teams and student athletes provided skills demonstrations and participatory activities specific to each sport. The UNE men’s and women’s hockey teams hosted free ice-skating for all skill levels, as well as a hockey shot contest for the more advanced participants. The UNE Softball, Rugby, and Soccer Teams had a number of stations set up to demonstrate the complexity of human motor and sensory systems, illustrating how practice can lead to improved memory and skill levels. All of the scholar athletes reinforced the importance of protecting the head while playing sports.

In partnership with The Michael T. Goulet Foundation, more than 150 free helmets were given away at the Brain Fair after ensuring that the recipients were fitted to the proper size. The Goulet Foundation also announced two student scholarships that they are awarding to UNE students who demonstrate a passion and commitment to helping individuals, families and communities to prevent or better treat brain injuries and epilepsy.