Ed Bilsky and Denise Giuvelis volunteer for Career Day at Biddeford Intermediate School

On March 18, 2010, Biddeford Intermediate School held its annual career day for the 4th and 5th grade students. Many diverse careers were represented, including that of neuroscientist Ed Bilsky, Ph.D., director of UNE's Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences and professor of pharmacology, College of Osteopathic Medicine. During his time with the students he talked about simple and complex brain tasks including how the brain perceives and reacts to pain. Denise Giuvelis, a UNE College of Arts and Sciences and UNE research associate, led the students in a neuroscience activity on the "blind spot" of the eye. She also discussed several fun facts about the human brain. The activity was a success with the kids asking thought-provoking questions on how the brain works and what it really means to be a scientist. Dr. Bilsky also convinced most of the kids that scientists do not always wear white lab coats and a pair of broken glasses or have grey straggly hair.