TPE Participates in National Science and Technology WeekTechnology Week

How much does an adult human brain weigh? How long is an axon? How easy is it to interpret other people's emotions through their facial expressions? National Science Foundation (NSF) staff members and their families, as well as school groups, scout troops, and shoppers, explored these questions at the annual National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) science fair, held at a Washington-area shopping mall in April.

For the second consecutive year, the APA Science Directorate represented psychology at the NSTW event. This year, APA's display featured several tables where participants could explore Traveling Psychology Exhibition (TPE) Discovery Units on the human brain, facial expression of emotion, memory, problem solving, cooperation, and competition.

Working with several hundred children and adults throughout the evening, Science Directorate staff led demonstrations, provided hints for solving some of the most difficult puzzles, and sent participants home with a colorful Stroop Effect activity sheet.

In addition to being part of TPE, the Discovery Units have become a successful outreach tool. They are used in teacher workshops, at the Annual Convention of the Society for Neuroscience, the annual MIST (Minorities in Science and Technology) career day, as well as at NSTW.

The Traveling Psychology Exhibition, 'Psychology: Understanding Ourselves, Understanding Each Other' was developed and produced by APA and the Ontario Science Centre, with support from the National Science Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Harvard University, and the National Institute of Mental Health. The Exhibition's tour is managed by the Association of Science-Technology Centers.

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