Sparking Curiosity; Grant Expands Flagship Neuroscience Event

by Chelsey Matheson | Friday, Apr 17, 2026
A young boy wearing a red cap and orange T-shirt stands at a table facing a seated man in a teal 鈥淣euro Squad鈥 shirt, who has a white sensor headband on his forehead. Between them is a small device with buttons and upright components, suggesting a hands-on brain or neuroscience activity. In the background, several people gather around a booth with a 鈥淢ax Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience鈥 banner, along with microscopes and science materials, creating the atmosphere of an interactive science exhibit.

鉴黄师app鈥檚 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (SNBI) expanded its popular Brain Sparks community event thanks to a grant from the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).

The IBRO/Dana Brain Awareness Week Grants support activities that increase awareness about the brain and neuroscience research by funding outreach and awareness campaigns, particularly in regions challenged by lack of resources, support and public understanding of the brain.

SNBI鈥檚 ASCEND program (Advancing STEM-Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery) hosts Brain Sparks each year during Brain Awareness Week in March at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach. The pop-up neuroscience experience is designed to spark curiosity about neuroscience and brain function through unique and engaging hands-on activities led by professional neuroscientists and their trainees. More than 450 children and adults participated in the experience this year.

The ASCEND program received a $1,250 grant to enhance Brain Sparks and expand the variety of hands-on activities available to participants. The funds supported additional materials and interactive stations that helped deepen engagement and give attendees more opportunities to explore brain science concepts in a fun, accessible way. The funding also helped reach more families in the community and elevate the overall impact of the event.

鈥淏rain Sparks is all about showing that brain science is fun and truly for everyone,鈥 said Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., director of community engagement at SNBI. 鈥淲e love seeing not just kids, but parents and even grandparents get excited鈥攅specially when they鈥檙e proudly walking around the museum in their 鈥榖rain caps.鈥 With support from IBRO, we were able to expand these hands-on experiences and bring even more moments of curiosity and connection to our community.鈥

Brain Sparks was held on Saturday, March 21, in partnership with the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. The program is part of SNBI鈥檚 annual Brainy Days, a monthlong celebration of neuroscience featuring events to educate and engage the community about the benefits of brain research.

To learn more about SNBI鈥檚 community programs, visit .

A young child sits at a table while an adult places a small adhesive pad on the side of the child鈥檚 head. Across from them, a smiling man wearing glasses and a teal 鈥淣euro Squad鈥 T-shirt engages with the child. Another person in a similar shirt sits nearby. The table holds papers, markers, and a device with buttons, suggesting a hands-on science or educational activity.
鉴黄师app's Brain Sparks event makes neuroscience accessible to everyone through fun, engaging educational activities.

Two individuals sit behind a table wearing turquoise t-shirts that say "Neuro Squad" with a brain outline. One person wears black gloves and holds a clear display container with specimens. On the table are aluminum trays with preserved sheep brain specimens.
Brain Sparks activities are led by professional neuroscientists and their trainees.

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