ScienceMakers Toolkit Manual - The History Makers

Life Science
Berger-Sweeney’s neurobiological research, mostly concerning the neurobiology of learning and memory and
neurological disorders, has been published in journals such as the Journal of Neurobiology and the International
Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. Berger-Sweeney’s prestigious research awards include the National
Science Foundation Young Investigator Award. She resides in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Discussion Questions
Personal:
1. What was the most compelling thing you learned about Dr. Berger-Sweeney?
2. Where was Dr. Berger-Sweeney born? Locate it on a map. How far away is this from where you live?
What are the names of her parents? Where did Dr. Berger-Sweeney attend high school? What do you
suppose high school was like for her?
3. How old are you? In what year was Dr. Berger-Sweeney your age? What was happening in the country
that year? What was happening in the world that year? What do you suppose her life was like when she
was your age?
4. What challenges do you think Dr. Berger-Sweeney faced as a double minority (an African American
woman) in the sciences? How do you think she overcame these challenges? How is your life different
because of her example?
5. Dr. Berger-Sweeney attended Wellesley College, which is an all-female school. What do you think her
college experience was like? What do you think it would be like to go to a single-gender school? What
are the pros and cons? Do you think your education would be more or less effective? Why?
(See Biography)
6. Dr. Berger-Sweeney now teaches at Wellesley College. Why do you suppose she returned there? What
are the advantages and disadvantages in returning to familiar locations? (See Biography)
Science:
7. What do you think a neurobiologist does? Would you like to be a neurobiologist? Why?
8. If you were a neurobiologist, what kinds of questions would you answer?
9. Dr. Berger-Sweeney researches the neurobiology of learning and memory. How do you learn best:
reading, learning, or something else entirely? When you need to remember something, what techniques
do you use? How do you think memory works? (See Biography)
10. Dr. Berger-Sweeney also studies neurobiological disorders. Find out what some of these disorders are
and report to your class on one of them. What are the symptoms? How does it work? What are the cures,
if any? Do scientists fully understand how the disease works? If not, what is the most current research?
(See Biography)
11. Dr. Berger-Sweeney has been published in the International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience.
What do you think developmental neuroscience deals with? Why do you think this is important?
(See Biography)
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