Brain's Rule!
The Michigan Center for hES Cell Research participated in a collaborative effort between the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum and the University of Michigan's Neuroscience Department in the "Brains Rule!” Exposition in October 2005. Approximately 300 local area sixth graders were invited to participate in "hands on" exhibits and games to promote learning about the brain and nervous system. The hES Center's exhibit featured a tutorial on stem cells and how these cells might be converted into neurons to help cure diseases of the nervous system and to repair spinal cord injuries. Our "hands on" activity featured a contest between two groups of kids in a game where the object was to see who could shape (using a variety of cookie cutters: some representing heart cells, some muscle cells, some nerve cells, etc.) the most neurons out of stem cells (represented by balls of play-doh®) and complete the "repair" of damaged nerve cells on a life size representation of a body with a spinal cord injury. This project was funded by contributions from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals of Ann Arbor, The Ann Arbor Hands On Museum and Michigan Center for hES Cell Research.
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