Newswise — Last year’s lockdowns confined most people to their homes. For teenagers on summer break, a season usually dedicated to recreation and outdoor exploration, this meant long days of boredom. But for Nikhita Kaushik, who just finished her sophomore year at Irvine’s Arnold O. Beckman High School, the free time was a blessing. It enabled her to dive into her passion for neuroscience and establish the Southern California Youth Neuroscience Association.
Two years ago, Kaushik participated in the UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory’s Brain Camp, a two-week all-day summer program that introduces middle and high school students to the wonders of the brain. The immersive, lab-oriented experience stayed with her, deepening her interest in psychology and neuroscience. After the camp, Kaushik remembers thinking, “This is definitely what I want to…
