UC Davis units will present three instructive, interactive programs, all free, this Saturday (March 14). All ages are invited to learn about the brain, learn about bugs and take a guided walk in the arboretum.

Also that day, the city of Davis presents its annual Children’s Summer Activities Faire, where Campus Recreation and Unions Youth Programs will showcase its camps, classes and swim lessons.

Learn about the brain

The Center for Neuroscience presents a program with speakers and hands-on activities, like examining neurons under a microscope and touching brain specimens!

The program comes during Brain Awareness Week, a global initiative to increase public awarenss of the progress and benefits of brain reseach.

The Center for Neuroscience calls its Saturday event “The Diseased Brain: Neuroscience Public Seminars and Interactive Learning Experience.” It will run from 1:30 to 5 p.m.  at the Center for Neuroscience, 1544 Newton Court, Davis.

Director Cameron Carter, professor of psychiatry and psychology, will give a welcome at 1:45 p.m. Then come four seminars and time to have fun with the interactive booths in the lobby.

Here is the program:

• 2 p.m. — “Neuroscience of Healthy Aging and Dementia,” Charles DeCarli, professor, Department of Neurology (UC Davis Health System)
• 2:30 p.m. — “Human Stem Cells: A Potential Treatment for Huntington’s Disease,” Vicki Wheelock, clinical professor, Department of Neurology (UC Davis Health System)
• 3 p.m. — Interactive booths
• 3:20 p.m. — “Epilepsy: When Brain Cells Go Awry,” Christoph Lossin, professional researcher, Department of Neurology (UC Davis Health System)
• 3:50 p.m. — “Interactions Between the Immune System and Brain Function During Development and in Psychiatric Disorders,” Kimberley McAllister, associate director, Center for Neuroscience; and professor, Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, and Department of Neurology (UC Davis Health System)
• 4:30 p.m.— Interactive booths.

Here’s some of what the booths area will include:

• Test Your Brain Knowledge — Trivia for all ages (with prizes).
• Brain Specimens — See and touch real brains!
• Neurons Under the Microscope — See the beautiful shapes of various neurons.
• Don’t Let Your Eyes Fool You — Learn about the brain through visual illusions
• Institute for Regenerative Cures — Learn more about stem cell research, one of the most fascinating areas of contemporary biology.

See the complete program.

Children’s Summer Activities Faire

Parents: This is your opportunity to check out summer programs offered by Campus Rec and Unions, the city of Davis and other organizations. The free fair features activities and crafts for kids, and demonstrations.

The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Park, Second and C streets, alongside the Davis Farmers Market (Saturday is Pig Day, by the way!).

Online registration for Campus Rec and Unions Youth Programs begins at noon Monday (March 16). If you're new to Youth programs, take note: You'll need to create a profile, and you can do that beforehand. Look for the "Create Profile" link on the registration website.

Early-bird registration was held Feb. 8 — but don't worry: "We still have room in all of our camps, swim lessons, classes and programs," the Youth Programs website declares. The site includes a link to the summer catalog (as a PDF, which you can download).

'Pollination Nation'

Another in a series of open houses at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, 1124 Academic Surge. The museum is normally closed on weekends, so, by holding these special open houses, the museum can reach people who are unable to attend on weekdays. Saturday’s special hours: 1-4 p.m

'Delights from Down Under'

Guided tour through the arboretum’s Australia and New Zealand collections. 11 a.m., meet at the Shovel Gateway Sculpture in the Arboretum GATEway Garden behind the Davis Commons shopping center, First Street and Richards Boulevard.

More at the arboretum: Walk with Warren, Wednesday (March 11); and Yoga in the Arboretum, Sunday (March 15).

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