Gifted young students dissect science during brain awareness week
(March 28, 2003)-- University of Texas at San Antonio Associate Professor of Biology Edwin Barea-Rodriguez welcomed 35 elementary school students to his classroom for a first-hand look at the human brain during National Brain Awareness Week. The students in grades 3-5 are part of the gifted and talented program at Northwest Crossing Elementary School in the Northside ISD.
Pictured is UTSA biology professor Edwin Barea-Rodriguez showing a human brain to elementary school students visiting UTSA during National Brain Awareness Week.
"The students have been studying the brain since October and each has conducted independent research which they exhibited today in a PowerPoint presentation," said Becky Dirby, gifted and talented program teacher.
According to Dirby, the students have researched the cerebral cortex and diseases associated with the brain. Before dissecting a sheep brain on Thursday, the students had done only virtual dissections on the computer.
"It's pretty cool, but kind of gross when we had to peel some of the top of the brain off, " said Sam Barnett, a 10-year-old student.
"It's sort of gross but fun at the same time. You get to see it up close and see a real brain," said student Allison Luloffs.
Barea-Rodriguez has done presentations for the last six years during brain awareness week and he says he looks forward to interacting with the students.
"If you start them early, they can get excited about science and they also get exposed to a college environment and learn about UTSA ," said Berea-Rodriguez.
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2003