Rediscovering the Joy of Science: How MBL’s Neuroscience Course inspires Innovation
For over a century, the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) has been a beacon of scientific discovery, offering researchers and students a unique habitat to explore the mysteries of life. Among its many contributions, MBL is renowned for its groundbreaking work on the squid giant axon, a discovery that revolutionized our understanding of how neurons transmit electrical signals. Today, this legacy continues through courses like Neural Systems & Behavior (NS&B), a summer program that has been shaping the minds of neuroscientists for nearly 50 years.
The Allure of MBL: Where Science Meets Fun
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Why do scientists return to MBL year after year, trading beach vacations for long hours in the lab? The answer is simple: it’s fun. As one faculty member puts it, “fun is an underappreciated ingredient for scientific innovation.” This sentiment echoes the spirit of curiosity that draws many into neuroscience—a field that seeks to unravel the secrets of life and the mind.
The NS&B course, which evolved from MBL’s original zoology course established in 1888, embodies this ethos. It’s a place where students and faculty alike can indulge their curiosity through hands-on experimentation. “For faculty like me, thes courses deliver sublime moments of discovery that reconnect us to why we became scientists in the first place,” the instructor reflects.
Krogh’s Principle in Action
The course is structured around Krogh’s principle, articulated by physiologist August Krogh in 1929: “For many problems, there is an animal on which it can be most conveniently studied.” This principle guides the course’s modular approach, where faculty focus on different model organisms to explore essential scientific questions.
Mornings are dedicated to lectures, while afternoons and evenings are spent in the lab.Students learn new techniques and gain insights into how basic principles emerge from studying diverse species. The course also includes breaks for external lectures, professional development sessions, and even trips to nearby Stony Beach for a refreshing swim.
From “Crazy Ideas” to Published Research
One standout module is the somatosensory module, led by Ann Clemens and Michael Brecht. Here, students are encouraged to brainstorm the most “out there” ideas within the realm of rodent somatosensation. This past summer, one student’s curiosity about the sensory experience of rat pups led to a groundbreaking discovery. The team found that grasping a specific part of the pup’s neck triggers immobility and posture adjustments, making it easier for the mother to transport them.
This “crazy idea” quickly evolved into a preprint and was later published in Current Biology. Such rapid progress is a testament to the course’s innovative approach. For projects requiring more time, NS&B provides a fund to support post-course travel. As an example, two students studying the respiratory capacity of fruit flies visited the instructor’s lab in Seattle to further their research.
A Resurgence of Scientific Community
After a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, NS&B and other summer neuroscience courses have made a strong comeback.The past two years have been notably rewarding, as participants rediscovered the importance of social interaction in scientific discovery.“Although the myth prevails in the popular consciousness that scientific discoveries are commonly made by solitary geniuses, in practice this is rarely the case,” the instructor notes. The collaborative and fun-filled environment of NS&B serves as a reminder that science is a collective endeavor, enriched by shared curiosity and camaraderie.
Key Highlights of NS&B
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Duration | Two weeks of intensive study and experimentation. |
| Focus | Neural systems and behavior, guided by Krogh’s principle. |
| Modules | Taught by faculty specializing in diverse model organisms. |
| Outcomes | Rapid translation of ideas into published research. |
| Post-Course Support | Funding for travel to continue research projects. |
A Call to Future Scientists
For those drawn to the mysteries of the brain and the thrill of discovery, NS&B offers an unparalleled prospect to immerse oneself in the joy of science. As the instructor muses, “I suspect that Victor Frankenstein’s trajectory would have turned out differently if he had attended NS&B and learned how to have fun in the lab.”
To learn more about MBL’s transformative courses, visit their official page and explore how you can be part of this vibrant scientific community.
Rediscovering the Joy of Science: How MBL’s Neuroscience Course Inspires Innovation
For over a century, the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) has been a beacon of scientific discovery, offering researchers and students a unique habitat to explore the mysteries of life. Among its manny contributions, MBL is renowned for its groundbreaking work on the squid giant axon, a discovery that revolutionized our understanding of nerve signaling. The collaborative and fun-filled environment of MBL’s summer neuroscience courses, after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, including participants rediscover the importance of social interaction in scientific discovery.Even though myth predominates public and in practice, this rarely occurs,” the the instructor advises knows. The collaborative and fun-filled environment as a reminder science is collective, rich sake, shared and camaraderie.
Key Highlights NS&B
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