The Technology Association of Iowa is handing out its annual Women of Innovation Awards this week. One of the recipients is exploring the connection between music and the brain.
A doctoral student at Iowa State is being recognized for her research into how music impacts the nervous system. Patricia Izbicki has an undergraduate degree in music performance and is now applying it to her scientific studies in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at ISU. She says she hopes the results of her work lead to more support for music programs.
“To be able to influence medical and educational policy, and be able to advocate for keeping music in the schools and provide more funding,” she says.
Izbicki says once the power of music is appreciated, better policies to incorporate music into curricula will follow.
“If we’re really able to understand what’s going on at the level of the brain and nervous system in terms of music, music therapy, music education, we can further influence and advocate for medical and educational policy involving music,” she says.
Izbicki says she relies on technology in her research to measure brain activity.
She will receive a $2,500 scholarship as one of two student winners of the Technology Association’s Iowa Women of Innovation Awards. The group is honoring ten women innovators from academia, business and government with its 10th annual awards.
The complete list of winners: Research Innovation, Alicia Carriquiry, Iowa State University; Academic Innovation, Deborah Kent, Drake University; Entrepreneurial Innovation, Amy Lank, American Power Systems; Leadership Innovation, Michelle Bates, BluPrairie; Company Innovation, Kum & Go; Rising Star, Bailey Anderson, Principal Financial Group; Diversity Champion, Amanda Pietsch, John Deere; STEM Champion, Chris Cournoyer, Quad City Engineering and Science Council; Legislative Advocacy Leader, Debi Durham, Iowa Economic Development Authority; Collegian Innovation, Patricia Izbicki, Iowa State University; Youth Innovation, Danielle Panning, Valley Lutheran High School, Cedar Falls
Panel of judges who selected the winners: Sondra Ashmore, WR Berkley; Sandy Ehrig, Renew Rural Iowa; Adrienne Greenwald, VentureNet Iowa; Michelle Hill, Waukee APEX; Paul Kinghorn, University of Northern Iowa; Tony Kioko, Principal Financial Group; Lisa Lorenzen, Iowa State University; Joyce Pingel, Kum & Go; Kate Washut, Far Reach; Laurie Watje, JPEC at University of Northern Iowa; Jeff Weld, Governor's STEM Advisory Council