Module 01: Introduction to NeuroTrailblazers & Connectomics

Overview

Welcome to the first step in your NeuroTrailblazers journey. This module introduces the core mission of the NeuroTrailblazers initiative and the exciting field of connectomics. You'll explore why understanding the brain’s wiring matters, how large-scale mapping projects like MICrONS and H01 work, and what tools and skills you’ll gain throughout this curriculum.

SMART Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the goals of connectomics and how it fits within modern neuroscience. (Bloom: Remember, Understand)
• Identify major connectomics datasets and their characteristics. (Bloom: Understand)
• Recognize the purpose and structure of the NeuroTrailblazers platform. (Bloom: Remember)

Training Goals

• Inspire students to pursue curiosity-driven discovery in neuroscience.
• Establish the value of interdisciplinary learning across neuroscience, computation, and ethics.
• Familiarize learners with key resources and concepts that recur in later modules.

Key Resources

• I Am My Connectome – Sebastian Seung (TED)
• MICrONS Project Overview
• FlyWire Dataset from Princeton/HHMI Janelia

Sample Colab Notebook

Coming soon – preview of interactive connectome viewer + dataset explorer.

Public Videos / Open Courses

• BrainFacts.org Intro Series
• Jeff Lichtman: Wiring the Brain – YouTube

Assessment

• Short multiple-choice quiz on core terms and dataset names.
• Reflection: “What makes connectomics exciting to you?” (Submit 150–250 words)

Framework Alignment

MERIT Stage: Orientation & Research Foundations
CCR Pillars: Knowledge, Motivation
Scientific Pipeline: Foundations