SJC students explore neuroscience through fruit flies at a workshop, gaining hands-on insights into brain function and addictive behaviors.
Exploring the Brain Through Fruit Flies
What can the behavior of fruit flies tell us about neuroscience and the mysteries of the brain? On April 11, over 80 students from area high schools and colleges converged at San Juan College (SJC) to explore these questions and more. Students from Shiprock High School, Kirtland Central High School, Dine College, and SJC attended the Pueblo Brain Science Neuroscience Workshop at SJC, followed by two additional days at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque.
Hands-On Learning with Fruit Flies
The workshop provided hands-on participation and observation, showing how scientists use fruit flies to study brain function and behaviors. Highlights included experiments observing which visual stimuli flies are attracted to or avoid, and demonstrations showing how fruit flies exposed to alcohol demonstrate addictive behaviors. Students also saw how flies with temperature-activated genes exhibited behavioral changes.
SJC Graduates Share Their Journeys
Three SJC graduates, Nichols Redhouse, Renae Simonson, and Ethan Wilson, shared their educational journeys and current work at a UNM neuroscience lab. Their stories inspired students, showing the possibilities that lie ahead in the field of neuroscience.
Esteemed Faculty and Researchers
Leading the workshop were Syed Mubarak Hussain, UNM Assistant Professor of Biology, and Matthew Clark, Assistant Professor of Biology at Bucknell University. Students also learned from a multitude of esteemed university and research institute scientists, including Frank Loesche of Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Janelia Research Campus, Budha Chowdhury from the City University of New York (CUNY), Kavin Nunez from New York University School of Medicine, Ulises Ricoy of the University of Arizona, and Krishna Patel of UNM.
Future Plans and Acknowledgements
Dr. Veronica Evans, Interim Dean of the SJC School of Science, Math, and Engineering, was instrumental in bringing the event to San Juan College and announced plans to hold the workshop again next spring. This initiative continues to bridge the gap between high school, college, and university education, fostering a deeper understanding of neuroscience through practical experience and expert mentorship.
