Our Mission
We bridge the education gap of at risk students by providing accessible neuroscience curricula and equipment at no cost. We believe in ‘Neuroscience for Everyone!’ and strive to ensure that all students, regardless of financial constraints, have the opportunity to explore and understand the complexities of the brain. In partnership with Backyard Brains Inc., we deliver hands-on neuroscience experiences and educational support to inspire the next generation of scientists, researchers, and informed citizens.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every student, driven by curiosity and potential, has access to neuroscience education that inspires discovery and innovation. By partnering with schools rich in diverse perspectives and creativity, we empower students and teachers with the tools and knowledge to explore the fascinating world of the brain. Our goal is to ignite a lifelong passion for learning, foster confidence, and build a more informed and compassionate society through hands-on science education.
Our Values
Accessibility
Our mission embeds accessibility and affordability to democratize neuroscience, ensuring it reaches every student, particularly in underresourced areas. We strive to transform ‘Neuroscience for Everyone’ from an aspiration into a reality by dismantling educational barriers.
Empowerment
Our approach to neuroscience education is designed to build confidence and inspire learners. By bridging theory and practice, we empower students to unlock their full potential, paving the way for a future filled with limitless opportunities.
Curiosity
We are committed to sparking the interest that drives learning and discovery in neuroscience. Through innovative, hands-on tools and collaborative efforts, we nurture this essential trait, embarking on a journey filled with endless possibilities.
Our Team
Aleksandra Gage, President
Aleksandra Gage, holding an M.S. degree in psychology and a master certificate in social work, is the president and founder of the Backyard Brains Foundation. Her educational background has provided her with a deep understanding of human behavior and social systems, enriching her approach to community outreach and educational initiatives. In her previous multifaceted role as Director of Finance and Community Outreach at Backyard Brains, Inc., she was instrumental in the organization’s success. Blending financial acumen with creative strategy, Aleksandra drove operational excellence and significantly elevated the brand. Her management of fiscal reporting not only ensured compliance and financial integrity but also set a standard for meticulous oversight.
Her innovative contributions to marketing and communications greatly enhanced the company’s visual identity, through her development of websites, photography, and video content. This dual focus on finance and community engagement underscored her comprehensive understanding of both the operational and educational aspects of the organization. Her commitment to science education and accessibility was evident in her efforts to expand the organization’s reach through strategic initiatives and outreach programs.
As the founder of the Backyard Brains Foundation, Aleksandra has continued to champion the cause of accessible science education, ensuring that students of all backgrounds have the opportunity to explore and engage with neuroscience. Through her leadership and vision, she embodies the spirit of innovation and inclusivity, making a lasting impact on the field of science education. Her unique blend of expertise in psychology, social work, finance, and community outreach has been pivotal in fostering an environment where science education is both accessible and engaging.
Susan Schmidt, President of the Board of Directors
Susan is a life-long educator in the area of special education/learning disabilities and currently serves on the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education. She has discovered that the key to achieving great outcomes lies in assembling individuals with diverse perspectives to work together. With her past experience in the Michigan House of Representatives, she is currently spearheading a bipartisan initiative to improve reading instruction focused on valid and reliable screening assessments, evidence-based instructional methods, and teacher training grounded in the research of how the reading brain works. Her community activism and leadership has been focused on environmental issues, recreation opportunities, neighborhoods and public education, which included her service as the former president of the East Lansing School Board. As a teacher with the bulk of her experience in urban settings she has advocated for increased support and resources for students at risk and teachers. She has also contributed as a State Board member for Reach Out and Read, a program that collaborates with pediatricians to boost literacy among children.
Jennifer Heckendorn, Member of the Board of Directors
Currently serving as a lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, Jennifer teaches graduate courses on aging and interpersonal practice and is a member of the Washtenaw County Commission on Aging. In addition to her academic role, she operates her own private practice, Heckendorn Consultation and Therapy, PLLC, offering individual, couples, and family therapy to clients of various backgrounds and needs. Holding a BA and an MSW from the University of Michigan, along with a Higher Education Teaching Certificate from HarvardX, she possesses a broad range of skills in behavioral health, mental health counseling, and has significant domain expertise in aging and gerontology. Her mission is to assist older adults and their families in achieving well-being, resilience, and dignity during their later years.
Ann Williams, PhD, Member of the Board of Directors
Dr. Williams is a professor of communication. She is a trained survey methodologist, with a background in media studies, economic and political communication, public opinion research, and advanced statistical analysis.
Her interests in communication are interdisciplinary and cross-cutting. She writes about both communication-driven factors that propagate information disparities, stereotypes, and social inequalities as well as communication-based correctives that foster community ties, promote social cohesion, enhance public awareness, and motivate civic participation.
Williams’ research responds to the ever-evolving state of public opinion. She looks at how public opinion is constructed, represented, interpreted, and diffused; and is normatively concerned with how media institutions and political organizations view, shape, and respond to people. Under this lens, she hopes to promote a more clear understanding of what public opinion looks like, and works to facilitate connections between media practitioners, policy-makers, and the publics they seek to represent.
Lucia Guerri, PhD, Program Manager
As a dedicated biomedical scientist and educator, specializing in neuroscience, mental health, and substance abuse, Dr. Guerri has made significant professional contributions across various educational settings, including universities, elementary schools, and public forums in the United States, Germany, France, and Argentina. With a strong record of effective teaching, mentoring, and outreach, she has made an indelible mark on the academic and scientific communities. Her work and collaborative efforts have garnered over 1000 citations, highlighting the impact and importance of her research.
Driven by a commitment to enriching scientific understanding and access, Dr. Guerri always contributes her extensive expertise, fosters enriching collaborations, and enhances the availability of open-access knowledge within the community.
Étienne Serbe-Kamp, PhD, Scientist in Residence
Dr. Serbe-Kemp has amassed over a decade of expertise in neurobiology and computational neuroscience, with a focus on exploring the visual system and motion detection mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster. His journey with Backyard Brains began in 2014 at the Marine Biological Laboratory during the “Methods in Computational Neuroscience” course, where initial experiments on plant action potentials were conducted. Following his Ph.D., he dedicated a sabbatical year to democratizing neuroscience, creating the blog onnneurotour.blogspot.com, and delivering open lectures and workshops across Europe and South America to elucidate the principles of neuroscience.
Currently, he splits his time between a post-doctoral research position in Martinsried, Germany, and his role as a Senior Scientist at Backyard Brains, working either remotely or on-site in Ann Arbor, MI. His responsibilities encompass the research and development of new hardware, software, and experiments, as well as co-directing the annual Summer Fellowship program and mentoring participating students. His efforts to disseminate research findings involve presenting at both local and global conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals dedicated to science education.
Over the years, Dr. Serbe-Kemp has established a global network of Citizen Science pioneers and engages in activities that foster open science, scientific literacy, and a stronger connection between science and the community. In collaboration with the science collective Hirnkastl, he delivers over fifty science lectures at schools, public events, and universities.
Currently, he is involved in the ERGo! initiative, a Biodiversity Citizen Science project that focuses on electrophysiological recordings of insect eyes. This endeavor aims to examine their health, visual sensitivity, and interaction with the environment, leveraging his expertise to contribute significantly to our understanding of insect physiology and ecology.
How we came to be
The Backyard Brains Foundation is a pioneering non-profit organization committed to revolutionizing neuroscience education within underfunded school districts across the nation. Our collaboration with Backyard Brains Inc., a leader in accessible and affordable neuroscience equipment, serves as the core of our initiative.
Backyard Brains Inc. has been instrumental in breaking down the barriers to neuroscience education by designing tools and kits suitable for grades 5-12. Their products enable educational institutions and amateurs to delve into graduate-level research and understanding of the brain, all under the guiding motto of “Neuroscience for Everyone!” With an alarming one in five of the world’s population affected by nervous system afflictions, the need for early neuroscience education is undeniable.
Despite Backyard Brains affordable offerings, we recognized a disconcerting trend: underfunded school districts were virtually absent from their customer base. Understanding that the nervous system’s complexity and traditional tools’ expenses have limited neuroscience education, we saw a critical need to bridge this gap.
That’s where our Foundation comes into play. We aim to enable all students, regardless of financial constraints, to have access to neuroscience gear that educates and inspires curiosity about how the brain works. By donating and distributing Backyard Brains’ equipment to identified underfunded districts, we are taking concrete steps towards equitable education.
Our initiative goes beyond merely providing tools. We actively engage with school districts, organizing introduction sessions for teachers, equipping them with the necessary educational plans, and offering ongoing customer support in collaboration with Backyard Brains Inc. This comprehensive approach ensures that our resources are strategically directed towards those who would benefit most.
The feedback from students and teachers utilizing Backyard Brains’ equipment has already been overwhelmingly positive, with notable growth in self-efficacy, self-concept, and conceptual understanding. Through the Backyard Brains Foundation, we strive to amplify this impact, ensuring that no school is left behind in this essential educational frontier. Together with Backyard Brains Inc., we are building bridges to a future where neuroscience truly is for everyone.
