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Making Connections is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research Resources. It is a part of the Science Education Partnership Award Program that comprises several projects nationwide.

Making Connections is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research resources, Grant # R25RR09840.

Making Connections is a partnership of the University of Washington, Pacific Science Center, Group Health Cooperative and the Washington Association for Biomedical Research.

Making Connections promotes understanding, enthusiasm and participation in health science and science careers.

Since the 1990s have been declared the decade of the brain, Making Connections focuses on the brain and nervous system to teach basic science concepts.

The program features:

• The Making Connections Celebrating the Decade of the Brain Summer Institute for educators presents advances in brain research and promotes partnership between educators and research scientists. Partcipants may earn five tuition-free credits.
  (206)616-9447

• Brain Power a traveling program for middle schools featuring workshops for teachers and students, multi-media all-school assemblies, hands-on exhibits, and a science/health curriculum to help students understand the brain and how it affects behavior.
  (206)443-2851

• Bioscientist in the Classroom & Community is a program featuring a Speakers' Bureau that provides free speakers on the topics of biomedical research and science careers, an annual scholarship competition awarding more than $1,000 in prizes, and educational services including a 7th-12th grade curriculum for teachers and a communications manual for scientists.
  (206) 956-3640



• Program Publications: (additional funding noted) The Brain Power component of this program has an excellent curriculum on brain basics and the neurobiology of addiction. It just underwent revision and was completed in January of 2001. Click on the BrainPower button for ordering information. (National Institute on Drug Abuse grant # R25DA09551 and R25DA12981)
  
  The Washington Association for Biomedical Research has produced three publicationsavailable free of charge:
  
  
  1. "Saving Lorenzo" - a middle school lesson plan dealing with biomedical research and the use of animal models (NIDA RR25DA12981)
  2. "Modern Science Miracles" - a curriculum for grades 7-12 on the humane use of animals in research and the impact of that research on human lives
  3. "Sharing Science With the Community" - a training manual for scientists and other community members interested in speaking to the general public, K-Adult, about the topic of the humane use of animals in research.
  
  Program Accomplishments: This program has served over 90,000 students, 7,100 teachers and 110,000 individuals in the general public since 1991.
  
  Since August 2000, Brain Power, the mobile van program, has served an additional 266 children and 357 adults at community events. Since August 2000, Brain Power has also served an additional 3,392 middle school students and their teachers through the assembly and exhibits on nuerobiology.
  
  Since August 2000, the Bioscientist in the Classroom and Community component has completed these additional presentations:
  
  
  1. Speakers workshop for 70 scientists in Seattle, Washington
  2. NSTA in Boise, Idaho - workshop - "Science, Art and Ethics" for 43 teachers. Booth distributing an additional 50 curricula, "Saving Lorenzo.
  3. WSTA in Vancouver, Washington - workshop - "Science, Art and Ethics" for 15 teachers. Booth distributing an additional 50 curricula, "Saving Lorenzo"
  4. Three presentations to AALAS - Coalition for Public Outreach - 53 scientists
  5. Seven community presentations to 877 community members
  6. 20 classroom presentations to 528 students and their teachers

Making Connections is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research Resources.

WE would appreciate hearing from you when you use any of the materials from this home page. Please send us your comments. As an expression of our appreciation we will mail you a free copy of the BRAIN POWER'S BRAIN SURGERY VIDEO. (as long as supplies last)

An Invitation To Education Leaders.
We would like to offer education leaders the opportunity to duplicate, adapt and utilize any of the Making Connection program components. If you are interested, please call 1-800-296-2917.