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BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK® EXPANDS TO 69 NATIONS WITH WORLDWIDE COORDINATION BY DANA ALLIANCE
Millions of people worldwide will explore the intricacies of the brain and its connection to everyday life during Brain Awareness Week, March 12-18. More than 2,000 organizations in 69 countries will hold activities, exhibits, and competitions such as the International Brain Bee. The campaign was founded and is coordinated by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives.Â
            With its signature logo and theme “Get Connected,” the Week is now a regular calendar fixture for many partner organizations, including the Society for Neuroscience, universities, patient advocacy groups, and K-12 schools. During Brain Awareness Week, participating organizations bring a variety of brain-related topics to the public, increasingly to children and educators.
            Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives neuroscientists are especially involved in the Week. In Houston, Dr. John Byrne, University of Texas Health Science Center, will coordinate several events, including “Brain Night” for kids at the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science, featuring an array of children’s activities and mini-presentations.  Dr. Judy Illes, Stanford University, will speak at a luncheon program, “Why Women Should Care about Neuroscience and Neuroethics.”
            Many universities have long-standing Brain Awareness programs, such as Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, which will feature leading experts at “The Brain and the Senses,” an event series moderated by David Heil, former host of PBS’s “Newton’s Apple.”  Vanderbilt University in Nashville will sponsor a seminar series and “Brain Blast,” a family event at the Adventure Science Center featuring hands-on activities.Â
            In many areas, the Brain Bee has become a recognized annual event. This live question-and-answer competition tests high school students’ knowledge of neuroscience. The Dana Alliance sponsors Brain Bee events in New York City and Washington, DC. Other regional competitions are held across North America, as well as in China and India, from January to March. The final international competition is held during Brain Awareness Week at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
            The Dana Alliance hosts a Brain Awareness Week Web site for the public at www.dana.org/brainweek, which includes an international events calendar, education resources, downloadable graphics, puzzles, publications, and general information.
            The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives is a nonprofit organization of 260 leading neuroscientists, including ten Nobel laureates. The Dana Alliance is committed to advancing public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. It is supported by the Dana Foundation, a private philanthropic organization with particular interests in neuroscience, immunology, and arts education.
Source:The Dana Foundation
