In the School Outreach Program, WCBR scientists make 45-60 minute interactive presentations to students in the local elementary, middle and high schools. The topics include areas of scientists' research and clinical work, as well as science topics requested by the schools. Previous presentations have included such topics as Sleep, Aging, Hearing, Balance, Somatosensory System, Poisonous Venoms, Effects of High Altitude, Electricity and the Brain, Drug Abuse, Blood-Brain Barrier, Alcohol, Spinal Cord Injury, Gene Therapy, Science Laboratory Techniques, Science Ethics, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The presentations reach approximately 300-400 local students.

In recent years, the WCBR Outreach Program has also included a special presentation by a WCBR scientist primarily for teachers, parents, high school students and community members. Topics have included Sleep in Adolescents, Gender Differences in the Brain, and Ecstasy, the Rave Drug. The special presentation and discussion is held in an informal atmosphere, immediately prior to the larger Town Meeting and draws approximately 40-50 participants.

The School Outreach program is coordinated by Kyle Frantz.

Kyle Frantz, Neuroscience, Georgia State University, PO Box 5030, Atlanta, Georgia 30302, Ph: 404-413-5338, kfrantz@gsu.edu