Welcome!
I am thrilled to welcome you to the CONNECT Initiative (Collaborative Outreach Network for Neuroscience Education and Community Training), proudly supported by UC Irvine’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Our mission is to foster collaboration and enhance resources in the field of Science Outreach and Education, creating impactful connections among educators, researchers, and the community.
This initiative was born from a desire to create community for those who engage in science outreach and education and came to life as a partnership with CNLM Outreach and Education Fellow Dr. Morgan Coburn and a dedicated committee— Dr. Erin Purvis, Dr. Lizzy Hubbard and Jacinda Taggett. Together, we aim to create a vibrant network where knowledge and resources flow freely, empowering all participants to inspire the next generation of neuroscientists.
I invite you to join us on October 30 for the launch of this inaugural series. I will be joined by a special guest, Dr. Caroline Montojo, President and CEO of the Dana Foundation. The session will include an engaging networking opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
Be sure to sign up for the CONNECT mailing list to receive important announcements! Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Warmly,
Manuella Oliveira Yassa, PhD
Director of Outreach and Education
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
University of California, Irvine
CONNECT SEMINAR SERIES 2024-25
CONNECT is an initiative supported by UC Irvine’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory to build networks and share resources and expertise in the field of Science Outreach and Education. This series will span topics including neuroscience education tool development, pathways to obtaining funding for outreach and education, publication opportunities, evaluation of outreach programs, the value of cultural wealth in neuroscience outreach, building cross-institutional and national bridges, and building a STEM outreach program from the drawing board to publication.
Virtual Link: Link will be provided to all CONNECT Seminar Series Registrants
Code of Conduct: All event attendees must adhere to the CNLM Code of Conduct.
Wednesday, October 30th 2024 - 12:00 PM
Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Ph.D.
Director of Outreach and Education
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, UC Irvine
Caroline Montojo, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Dana Foundation
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Greg Gage, Ph.D.
CEO and Co-Founder
Backyard Brains
Engaging Curiosity Through Hands-on Neuroscience
Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Marguerite Matthews, Ph.D.
Section Chief of Career Preparation
Office of Programs to Enhance the Neuroscience Workforce, NINDS
NINDS Strategies to Enhance the Diversity of the Neuroscience Workforce
Wednesday, January 8th, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Carla Romney, Sc.D., MBA
Director of Research, Boston University, CityLab Associate Editor-Journal of STEM Outreach
Sharing STEM educational outreach through publications and presentations
Wednesday, February 19th, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Kristin Bass, Ph.D. (she/her)
Director of Research Development at Rockman et. al Cooperative
SciEd Organizer
Co-Editor-Journal of STEM Outreach
Evaluating Outreach Programs with Meaningful Data
Wednesday, March 12th, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Ulises Ricoy, Ph.D.
Director of Outreach Initiatives, Grass Foundation
Faculty Director, Neuroscience Cognitive Science Program
University of Arizona
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Christian Bravo Rivera, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Psychiatry and Anatomy & Neurobiology
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Co-Founder of NeuroBoricuas (NeuroBridges)
Wednesday, May 14th, 2024 - 9:00 AM
Brinley Kantorski, Ph.D.
Director of Education and Multimedia Development at Duquesne University’s Partnership in Education
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy through a Game: A N.O.V.E.L. approach
Meet the CONNECT Team
Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Ph.D.
Director of Outreach and Education
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
M.A., University of California, Irvine
B.A., Johns Hopkins University
Manuella completed her Bachelor's degree in neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University, and her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Social Ecology with a focus on neuroscience education and the impact of university-community partnerships on the diversity of the STEM educational system and workforce.
Morgan Coburn, Ph.D. (she/her)
Neuroscience Outreach and Education Fellow
Ph.D and M.S., University of California, Irvine
B.A., Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley
Morgan grew up in San Juan Capistrano, before she traveled to Western Massachusetts to complete her Bachelors in Neuroscience and Behavior at Mount Holyoke College. She returned to Southern California to complete her Masters and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Mathew Blurton-Jones. Her doctoral research focused on human microglial dynamics in Alzheimer’s Disease. Morgan then completed a Postdoc at the University of Virginia with Dr. Ukpong Eyo before returning to the CNLM team. In her role, she works to advance the Outreach and Education goals of the CNLM to create accessible, equitable, and high-quality learning experiences in partnership with communities.
Elizabeth Hubbard, Ph.D.
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
Lizzy is a recent graduate from UC Irvine where she earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences. She began volunteering with the CNLM Ambassador program in 2018, where she participated on the K-12, Brain Bee, and Brain Explorer Academy committees. In her final two years, she co-chaired the K-12 committee, organizing outreach events both in-person and virtually. She now hopes to continue supporting neuroscience outreach efforts across institutions and industries through efforts like CONNECT!
Erin Purvis, Ph.D.
B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara
Erin completed her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biopsychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. During her graduate studies, she co-created the Community-Engaged STEM graduate certificate program at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a Civic Science Fellow at the Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine where she is working to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships between UCI researchers and the local community
Jacinda Taggett , B.A.
B.A., University of California, Davis
Jacinda Taggett (they/them) is a Research Associate at the Jagust Lab in UC Berkeley’s Neuroscience Department. Research interests for Jacinda surround human memory, and how it can be improved or worsened via various factors such as neurotransmitter release, sleep, and/or neurological disease.
As for long-term goals, Jacinda hopes to pursue graduate school in either neuroscience, education, or an intersection of the two in order to continue not only their academic career, but also hopefully encourage other students to pursue a similar path.
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