Brain Awareness Week
By Anna Nuechterlein
Last week, scholars, researchers, policymakers, patients, and members of the public joined together to celebrate Brain Awareness Week (BAW)! Every March, institutions around the world host events, workshops, and public awareness campaigns to highlight current developments in research about the brain and mind.
How did Brain Awareness week start? The program was first created in 1996 by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, supported by the larger, philanthropic Dana Foundation (est. 1950). The main goal of the initiative is to bridge “neuroscience and society” – in other words, to bring the benefits of neuroscience research to the public, and to support interdisciplinary applications of neuroscience – for example, in fields such as neurolaw and neuroethics.
In case you missed BAW, here are some highlights from the BC context:
Neuroethics Canada at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) held a series of events focussed on the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous voices and ways of knowing in brain and mind research, featuring distinguished lecturer Dr. Melissa Perreault.
The University of British Columbia (Okanagan) opened up their neuroscience laboratories to the community, inviting members of the public to see, experience, and learn about current research taking place in real time.
The Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology at Simon Fraser University (SFU) held events for youth and adolescents to learn about neuroscience and neurotechnology, from workshops to create “music with your muscles” and learn about visual illusions, to education about brain injuries and memory.
For more information on Brain Awareness Week upcoming events and how to get involved, visit: https://www.brainawareness.org/planning/event-ideas/.
