  With an increasing presence of science throughout all parts of society, there
is a rising expectation for researchers to effectively communicate their work
and, equally, for teachers to discuss contemporary findings in their
classrooms. While the community can resort to an established set of teaching
aids for the fundamental concepts of most natural sciences, there is a need for
similarly illustrative experiments and demonstrators in neuroscience. We
therefore introduce Lu.i: a parametrizable electronic implementation of the
leaky-integrate-and-fire neuron model in an engaging form factor. These
palm-sized neurons can be used to visualize and experience the dynamics of
individual cells and small spiking neural networks. When stimulated with real
or simulated sensory input, Lu.i demonstrates brain-inspired information
processing in the hands of a student. As such, it is actively used at
workshops, in classrooms, and for science communication. As a versatile tool
for teaching and outreach, Lu.i nurtures the comprehension of neuroscience
research and neuromorphic engineering among future generations of scientists
and in the general public.
