February 22, 2019
Florida Atlantic University’s Brain Institute is proud to announce “ Brainy Days 2019,” a celebration of neuroscience throughout the month of March sponsored by Palm Heath Foundation. From understanding autism, addiction and Alzheimer’s disease to exploring how the brain processes violent behavior, researchers hope to engage, empower and educate the public on brain diseases, promote brain wellness and ultimately reduce the stigma associated with brain disorders.

The programs kick off on Friday, March 1 at Jupiter Medical Center and go through Saturday, March 30 at various locations around Palm Beach County.
Using a unique strain of genetically engineered mice, a team of neuroscientists at  Florida Atlantic University's Brain Institute, and collaborators discovered a surprising response to cocaine in these mice. Results from the study, show that these genetically engineered mice failed to exhibit the hyperactivity seen in normal mice when given cocaine and didn’t run around. 
 
The study was spearheaded by Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., lead author, executive director of FAU’s Brain Institute, and a professor of biomedical science in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. 
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience selected Bethany A. Stahl, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow in Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science to speak at " Sunposium 2019," the fourth biennial conference highlighting some of the most complex issues at the forefront of understanding neural circuits. The three-day conference features world-renowned scientists from the Max Planck Society and research institutes and universities throughout the United States and Europe. This year’s event will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach on March 4-6. 
Florida Atlantic University recently celebrated “FAU Day” at the Florida Capitol. Every year, FAU sends a select group of students to advocate on behalf of the University in Tallahassee. More than 50 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees met with legislators and professional staff, toured the House and Senate chambers, heard an update from State University System of Florida Chancellor Marshall Criser and attended committee meetings. The event provides an opportunity for FAU to share its successes, engage lawmakers, and increases awareness and understanding of the university’s 2019 legislative priorities
The Florida Atlantic University Max Planck Academy pilot program was featured The Hechinger Report titled, " New early-college high school to pair students with neuroscientists." The FAU Max Planck Academy is the latest partnership between FAU, the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) and the Germany-based Max Planck Society. expanding on similar opportunities for FAU’s graduate and undergraduate students. Beginning this fall, the highly selective application process will target National Merit semifinalists, as well as the best STEM students from around the world. The first class is slated to begin in fall 2020 and to graduate in spring 2022.
Microbiologist Tracy Mincer, Ph.D., a joint hire between the   Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College and   Harbor Branch   was featured in a WPTV-TV News story titled,   "Environmentalists call cigarette butts a "secret threat" to our waterways."  While there are efforts to reverse cigarette butt pollution, Dr. Mincer highlighted the need for the community to help. "Beach cleanups really matter and keeping plastic out of the ocean really, really matters," said Dr. Mincer.
FAU Jupiter hosted “ SYNAPSE 2019 ,” an annual neuroscience networking event in collaboration with Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Scripps Florida Research Institute. Some of the brightest research scientists and students from the 3 institutions located on the John D. MacArthur campus gathered at MPFI to network and share their research findings on Jan. 25.
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors senior Austin Boutilier presented his poster titled, "Ecology of the Barreleyes (Opisthoproctidae) in the Gulf of Mexico," at the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science (GoMOSES) conference in New Orleans this month. The research was conducted under the direction of Jon Moore, Ph.D., honors college professor of biology, as part of a DEEPEND grant received from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
Nearly 80 people turned out for FAU's Academy for Community Inclusion information session on Tuesday, Feb. 12. FAU Academy for Community Inclusion is a certificate program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have completed high school. The Academy provides students a chance to advance their skills on a university campus with same age peers in inclusive settings. Students in the Academy will have the opportunity to take classes to improve employment skills, community access skills, and independent living skills. Thanks to the program, a number of current students are working in business’s in downtown Abacoa.
The John Nambu Memorial Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program offers intensive research opportunities with stipend support for FAU undergraduates. Established in the memory of the late Dr. John Nambu, professor of biology, the program provides undergraduates an opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in biology, neuroscience, and psychology labs on the FAU Jupiter campus . The deadline to apply is March 1.
Upcoming Events
'Genetic Medicine: 10 Surprising Things Your Genes Say About You'
David Lee Valle, M.D.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 3:45 p.m.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, FAU Jupiter Campus
Dr. Lary Walker, Emory University 
Friday, March 1
5 p.m.
Raso Education Center Clarke Auditorium, Event Sponsored by Jupiter Medical Center
Dr. Henriette van Praag
Friday, March 8, 12-1 p.m.
MC-17, room 119, FAU Jupiter Campus
Mon., March 11, 6-7 p.m.
Dr. Kara Margolis, Columbia University 
FAU College of Medicine, Room 126, FAU Boca Campus
'Journey Through the Human Brain'
Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m.
South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
'The United States, China and Russia: A New World Order or Disorder?'
Robert Rabil. Ph.D., FAU political science professor
Thursday, March 14, 11:15 a.m.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, FAU Jupiter Campus
'The Neuroscience of Violence and Compassion: Being Human(e)'
Dr. Jeremy Richman, Avielle Foundation
Tuesday, March 19, 4-5:30 p.m.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, FAU Jupiter Campus
Friday, March 29, 4-5:30 p.m.
Els Center of Excellence, Jupiter 
Saturday, March 30, 9-1 p.m.
South Florida Science Center & Aquarium
Saturday, April 6
8:30 a.m.
FAU Jupiter Campus
Florida Atlantic University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus , located in downtown Abacoa offers a variety of upper-division and graduate course. The campus houses the Academy for Community Inclusion , Center for Autism and Related Disabilities , College of Education , Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College , John D. MacArthur Campus Library and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute , the largest lifelong learning program in the nation. FAU Jupiter unites scientists and students in research and training programs and leverages FAU’s close affiliations with Scripps Florida and the Max Planck Florida Institute , also located on the campus. As part of this effort, the university-wide Brain Institute launched in 2016 and is a hub of cutting-edge, multidisciplinary neuroscience activity that builds on existing neuroscience centers and programs within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine , Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology offers research and training programs in molecular biology and biotechnology and serves as a link between FAU and other institutions and industries in this field.