UAF, West Valley host psychological perception fair

April 20, 2010

UAF photo by Todd Paris. UAF psychology majors Tiffany Withers and Tim Tewson participate in a sensory fair for students at West Valley High School.

University of Alaska Fairbanks and high school psychology students hope to offer the public a different way to experience reality during the 4th Sensational Perceptions Fair Friday, April 23 from 8-11 a.m. at the West Valley High School Library.

Teams of UAF and West Valley students have created more than 15 booths examining the way the human mind interprets the information it receives through eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin. UAF psychology professor Dani Sheppard’s 400-level sensation and perception class joined with members of West Valley teacher Joy Grubis’ senior level-psychology class to organize the fair and create the booths. The displays include topics like phobias, perception of time, visual illusions and aromatherapy.

“This partnership helps to foster a networking relationship between the students and programs as well as to get students and the community excited about psychology as more than just a class or a major,” Sheppard said. Sheppard hopes the event will help people see the world in a new light after learning how their sensations and perceptions really work.

Sensational Perceptions is free and open to the public.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Dani Sheppard, UAF psychology department, at 907-474-6514 or dani.sheppard@alaska.edu.

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