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Medical Leader News - EKSC hopes to get inside your head: Center’s brain exhibit a big hitEKSC hopes to get inside your head: Center’s brain exhibit a big hit
PRESTONSBURG — Cali Parker didn’t think about the brain much before she attended a four-day camp at the East Kentucky Science Center last week.
“I just thought it did what it did,” the Rockcastle Middle School eighth-grader said with a chuckle.
The science center’s new exhibit, “Brain, The World Inside Your Head,” has become an instant hit for visitors this summer. The exhibit, produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, is designed for children and adults, bringing visitors a better understanding of the complex functions of the human brain.
Parker, who joined nearly 70 Rockcastle County students for an astronomy and earth sciences camp last week, said the exhibit was “something that made you think.”
“I really liked the hot and cold sensor part of the exhibit,” she said.
Another popular point of the exhibit is the balance beam. Jennifer Bailey, the center’s marketing manager, said that the exhibit brings the competitive nature out of visitors.
“People have competitions to see who can stay on it the longest,” she said. “The crew that set up the exhibit was the best I have seen yet.”
The exhibit also makes brain diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and addiction, easier to understand.
“With our aging population and the problems of prescription drug addiction in our communities, this exhibit, while interactive and fun, can also serve as a valuable educational tool,” said Eric Thomas, the director of the East Kentucky Science Center.
Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 5 million people in the United States.
Over time, Alzheimer’s disease gradually affects a person’s memory and ability to learn and carry out daily activities such as talking, eating, and going to the bathroom. As the disease progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior.
“We hope that this exhibit helps our visitors better understand the complex nature of the brain,” Bailey added.
It seems to have worked for the group from Rockcastle County.
Ashton Arvin, an eighth grader, said the exhibit helped him “better understand my five senses.”
The students from Rockcastle County ranged from grades 7-10. Seventh and eighth graders participated in an astronomy camp, utilizing the science center’s meteorite and space art collection, while the high school students participated in an earth sciences camp, which included a trip to Breaks Interstate Park and extensive training on global positioning systems (GPS).
Students attended the camp as part of Berea College’s GEAR UP Program, but the center plans to offer a wide variety of camps for area children this summer.
“With gas prices continuing to rise, we know many families will be looking for alternative ways to enjoy the summer months,” Bailey explained.
“We feel that parents will not find a better deal than here. Our goal is to use our facility to intrigue the minds of our youth.”
The East Kentucky Science Center opened in 2004 and was developed after years of work, which included focus group studies that determined that 90 percent of students didn’t achieve well in science and mathematics and 96 percent of the residents didn’t understand science and mathematics.
Located on the Prestonsburg campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College, the center has a 3,000 square foot exhibit area, 1,000 square foot of classroom space, an 85-seat planetarium, a gift shop and administrative offices.
For more information on the center, please call (606) 889-0303 or log on to www.wedoscience.org .
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