The MSU SpikerBox Make and Take Workshop

Are you thinking about competing in the Brain Bee at MSU? Have you ever wondered what the "spikes" of neurons really look and sound like? How do your 5 senses really sense? Do you like doing experiments? Well you are in luck! Backyard Brains is conducting a workshop at MSU just for you.

The goal of this workshop is to make you a neuroscience expert! You will learn the skills to study the brain at a level that few people have ever done! You will build your own equipment to study the brain yourselves. Not sure how to solder or make electronics? No worries, we will teach you. No experience necessary.

First, we will provide demonstrations of insects so you understand how their brains work from the outside. Then we will guide you through how to build your own SpikerBoxes. Everyone will receive the parts required to build, plus step-by-step instructions on how to solder each component in place.

Finally comes the fun part. Science! We'll go through a whole bunch of fun experiments you can do with your new SpikerBox. We will learn about "Spikes", and "Rate Coding", how temperature affects the neurons, and how electricity can make muscles move!

You will also see demonstrations of our RoboRoach and preview some new yet-to-be-released devices! Note: One of the co-founders of Backyard Brains is a proud Spartan (lived in Case Hall and studied Electrical Engineering), and asks you to please ignore the U-M shirts in the photos. Special thanks to the MSU Neuroscience Program for giving us this opportunity to come to East Lansing!

Workshop Details

  • What? SpikerBox Build-it-yourself workshop
  • When? Saturday, Dec 10 from 12:00 - 4:30pm (includes a free pizza break to recharge!)
  • Where? Michigan State University. Room 137 of Natural Science Building (see map below)
  • Who? Registered Brain Bee at MSU Competitors (www.brainbeemsu.com)
  • How Much? $20 (that's a lot cheaper then the $99 SpikerBox itself!)

We'll meet you at the back door of Giltner Hall, click on the map above to see where to be dropped off and picked up.

Sign up today!

Sounds like something you would be interested in attending? Fill out the form below, and we will contact you with everything you'll need to attend.

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It is $20 per participant, once you have added all the attendees you can sign up and pay by clicking the Register and Pay button above.