Enhancement of Undergraduate Neuroscience Instruction and Laboratory Experiences

准备从事科学家和教师职业生涯的学生将通过在实验室课程中接触到组织学和神经成像系统的独立研究而显著提高，该系统使人们能够窥探神经系统的工作原理和结构。现有的心理学课程将得到改进，我们正在增加一门关于神经技术和神经解剖学的高级实验室课程。同时，里士满大学的学生将与当地的中学理科学生开展活动，让他们在大学和自己的学校使用新设备进行实验室体验，促进关于大脑、神经系统和行为的创造性和批判性思维技能，同时培养对科学的兴趣。与邻近的伦道夫-梅肯女子学院的心理学教师和学生的合作也将继续进行。

Students preparation for careers as scientists and teachers will improve significantly by exposure in their laboratory classes and independent research to a histology and neural imaging system that enables one to peer into the workings and structure of the nervous system. Existing psychology courses will improve, and we are adding an additional upper-level laboratory course on neural techniques and neuroanatomy. Concurrently, University of Richmond students will engage in activities with local middle-school science students, involving them in laboratory experiences both at the university using the new equipment and at their own school, promoting creative and critical thinking skills regarding the brain, nervous system and behavior, while fostering an interest in science. Collaborations will also continue with psychology faculty and students from neighboring Randolph-Macon Women's College.