Education & Public Engagement

Building knowledge, talent, and public understanding in NeuroAI

ARNI advances workforce development and public understanding at the intersection of artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and cognitive science through integrated education and engagement programs.

Want to learn about NeuroAI?

From early youth exposure to advanced training, our programs span every stage of learning. Through hands-on experiences, ranging from public science programs to global courses we teach about brains and machines, reaching hundreds of learners.

NeuroAI Course

Neuromatch Academy and ARNI co-developed,
targeting advanced learners

Educational Opportunities

Research opportunities from
high school to postdoc

NeuroAI Activities at the Museum

Bringing NeuroAI activities to the
New York Hall of Science

Saturday Science and STEM Starters

Events exploring the brain, AI, and STEM
for youth and families

Courses

NeuroAI Course with Neuromatch Academy

Education

Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Graduate Student Outreach and Education Coordinator

Youth and Public Engagement

Public Engagement Partnership: Bringing NeuroAI to the Museum Floor

ARNI’s partnership with the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) brings NeuroAI to the public through hands-on, interactive museum experiences that demystify how artificial and biological intelligence work. Together, ARNI and NYSCI co-develop and floor-test activities that invite visitors to compare how humans and AI perceive emotions, make decisions, and navigate real-world challenges. These exhibits spark curiosity, critical thinking, and conversation around real-world AI use and ethics, and have already demonstrated strong visitor engagement. The program is now expanding and scaling to reach NYSCI’s approximately 400,000 annual visitors.

At the heart of this partnership is the Explainers Fellowship program, which empowers high school and undergraduate students to become co-designers and educators at the museum floor. Each summer, ARNI hosts four NYSCI Explainers at Columbia University for immersive research internships and mentorship experiences. This museum–university pipeline builds future-ready skills, broadens participation in AI and neuroscience, and ensures that public engagement is shaped by both scientific expertise and youth leadership.

NYSCI Website
More information about explainer program HERE

Youth STEM Events at Columbia University

Check out our Activities Guide!

ARNI’s Graduate Student Program Coordinator, Katriona Guthrie-Honea—who also volunteers with STEM Starters—has designed and tested several activities aimed at increasing youths’ knowledge of AI and the brain.

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Columbia Neighbors’ Manhattanville Community Day Summer 2025, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Photo by Diane Bondareff)

Testimonials

“Innovation has always guided humanity forward. In this new age of AI, I want to understand how it can be applied to everyday life and science to help society progress further.” - Tasnim Haque
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed participating in the ARNI program so far. Although I began with limited experience in natural language processing, I’ve already learned a great deal and continue to grow through this experience. The faculty has been incredibly supportive, and my research project has been a good challenge and an ideal opportunity to deepen my understanding of NLP this summer.” -Medha Morparia
“Over the summer, I am looking most forward to determining the kinds of stimuli that can be deemed as positive or negative to different people. I am also curious to see how this can be connected to the ever evolving Artificial Intelligence.” -Leilanie Lewis

Partners