The Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Association of Students (NSCSAS), a student-run undergraduate club connected by their interest in neuroscience and cognitive science, have come together to further maintain the Carol A Brocherding NSCSAS Garden for Growth to provide a space for the neuroscience and cognitive science communities to come together.
Through the Campus Sustainability Fund’s support, NSCSAS will continue to rent a garden plot at the University of Arizona’s Community Garden and host their two recurring garden events each semester. One event is held at the beginning of the semester which is primarily to introduce new NSCSAS members to the community garden, its staff, and corresponding organizations. Together, they plant seeds based on the current time of year and share gardening tips with each other. New NSCSAS members are then encouraged to paint rocks as a way of showing their involvement in the garden and NSCSAS. The final event, hosted at the end of the semester, is when the NSCSAS members get to harvest their sprouted flowers and vegetables. All vegetables that the garden grows are then donated to the Campus Pantry.
NSCSAS has created this garden environment to provide a space for their members to make connections with the neuroscience and cognitive science community and be able to take a break from schoolwork load through an engagement with nature. This also provides the students with developing landscaping and gardening skills while calling attention towards the current global climate crisis.
