Outreach activities
All members of the Díaz-Ríos Laboratory are firmly committed on disseminating to the community the excitement and fulfillment that a career in scientific research can provide. We regularly bring students from the public and private school system to the Institute of Neurobiology for “hands on” demonstrations and presentations of our research projects and of research projects from other colleagues.
Dr. Manuel Díaz-Ríos is also an active advocate of science by serving as keynote speaker at local public and private middle schools and high schools, participating as a judge in local and regional science fairs and as member of local organizations which promote the participation of students in the sciences. Also, Dr. Diaz-Rios is highly committed in recruiting students underrepresented in science (including Hispanics and women) to a highly stimulating laboratory environment where electrophysiology and confocal imaging are used routinely by undergraduate and graduate participants. Dr. Diaz-Rios is also committed to disseminate his passion for scientific exploration including their findings regarding the circuits that control trunk movements through ongoing community outreach programs including the “Science Fair project”, which provides research experiences to public school students and teachers through the preparation of competitive science fair projects, and “From the Backyard to the Science Lab” which brings novel low-cost research tools to schools lacking resources for lab-based neuroscience training.
Workshop on the use of the Neurophysiology equipment from 'Backyard Brains' given to high school teachers and students at the San Juan Wildlife Museum (May 2017)
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The Diaz-Rios Lab together with the 'Neuroboricuas' (neuroboricuas.org/) participated in the Expociencia of “Colegio Marista” in the city of Guaynabo where they did demonstrations to students about concepts related to the field of Neuroscience (February 2017)
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In the premises of the Institute of Neurobiology, we had the educational activity entitled "Explore your brain in la SanSe". The activity attracted over 200 people including children and adults visiting Old San Juan during the San Sebastian Street Festivals. (January 2017)
This activity was possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of members of the Diaz-Rios Lab with NeuroBoricuas (http://neuroboricuas.org/), students and faculty of the University of Puerto Rico, University Central Caribbean and the University of Metropolitan, among others.
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Visits from middle and high school students from the Nemesio R. Canales II public school to the Institute of Neurobiology (May 2014)
- Learning about TIRF (total internal fluorescent microscopy) microscopy with Dr. Guillermo Yudowski (faculty of the Institute of Neurobiology)
- Students learning about sensory feedback with Ernesto Cabezas, Diaz-Rios lab member
- Students learning about Drosophila genetics with Dr. Bruno Marie (faculty of the Institute of Neurobiology)
- A picture of middle school students with Dr. Diaz-Rios and undergraduate student Luis Vaasjo after a "hands- on" experience in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Miller
Middle school students visiting the Animal Facility of the Institute of Neurobiology
- Picture taken outside the Institute of Neurobiology after a fun day of scientific exploration!
Visits from high school AP Science students from Rosa-Bell private school to the Institute of Neurobiology (September 2014)
Students talking to our graduate student, Marla Rivera-Oliver, while showing them the slice rig.
Students looking at recorded data.
Students looking at the blue crabs contained within animal facility of the Institute of Neurobiology.
Students posing with the PI, Dr. Diaz-Rios, at the entrance to the Institute of Neurobiology.
