The Unit was delighted to host a stand at the University of Oxford’s Science Wonder Garden Party on 21st June 2025 at Begbroke Science Park. The event was a huge success, drawing over 2,000 attendees of all ages, all eager to learn more about science.

Visitors discovered the full scope of research at the Unit, from microscopic investigations of individual neurons to large-scale techniques used in humans, and how these approaches help us understand and potentially treat brain disorders. Shenghong He captivated guests with a live demonstration of his brain-computer interface, projecting his own EEG signals in real time. Ioana Grigoras and Iris amazed the crowd by eliciting visible muscle twitches using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to stimulate the motor cortex and forearm muscles.

Meanwhile, Rosie McDonald-Hill and Chiara Toschi gave guests a glimpse into brain anatomy through fluorescent neuron displays under the microscope. They also guided visitors in building brain models and exploring how the human brain compares to that of rodents. Younger future scientists enjoyed crafting their own pipe-cleaner neurons to take home as a fun souvenir.

A huge thank you to everyone who made the day such a success, especially organiser Natalie Doig, and to all our enthusiastic visitors!