Sophia Benslimane

"This program is nothing like a science class you have ever taken."

In 2024, during her junior and senior years at Senn High School, Sofia Benslimane took part in the DANA Program for Neuroscience and Society’s after-school workshops, summer ETHOS program and Neuroscience and Society Day. 

While simultaneously conducting her own research, Benslimane ran, designed and managed psychological experiments with a small group when participating in the summer ETHOS program. Benslimane said the program required her to become more independent, which she found to be a valuable experience.

“I had to learn how to problem solve quickly, and become confident with my ability to make scientific decisions,” Benslimane said.

One of the activities from an after-school workshop that was memorable to Benslimane was an interactive lesson that taught the students about neurons. Each individual in the workshop acted as a physical representation of a part of a neuron’s function. While participating in the activity, students learned how to run the interactive lesson with middle schoolers. 

“This overall experience of participating in the activity and the teaching process was very different,” said Benslimane. “I realized through this that I enjoy working with youth and want to work with them in the future!”

Benslimane urged other students to take advantage of these neuroscience programs, even if they are not pursuing science in the future. She said it was a new, easy-going, hands-on opportunity that is great for networking and resumes.

“This program is nothing like a science class you have ever taken,” Benslimane said. “Here, you get to build community and have very interesting –possibly controversial–  conversations after school, while also being hands-on through fun activities.”

In the Fall, Benslimane plans on attending Edgewood College.

Connect with Sofia on LinkedIn.