What is Brain Awareness Week?
Brain Awareness Week strives to promote brain science and research to people around the world. Many schools, medical facilities, and organizations across the globe participate every year. It takes place annually on the third week of March. This year, it lasts from March 14 to March 20, 2022.
The main goal of Brain Awareness Week is to educate and interest people on how the brain operates and the research that goes into studying the brain. Brain research aims to create treatments, preventions, and cures for people affected by brain disorders and diseases. Brain Awareness Week also connects people all over the world with a shared interest in brain science.
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. From breathing to solving a difficult math problem, the brain pretty much controls everything we do. Scientists and medical professionals today are still exploring and trying to understand the brain better. They use advanced devices like magnetic resonance imaging (M.R.I) and positron emission tomography (P.E.T.) to learn more about it. Brain research has the potential to unlock groundbreaking discoveries about the brain and help improve the lives of many people with brain disorders. Some prominent diseases that researchers are trying to learn more about include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. People can learn all about it through fun activities during Brain Awareness Week.
Brain Awareness Week was launched in 1996 by the Dana Alliance of Brain Initiatives, an alliance of neuroscientists created by the Dana Foundation dedicated to advance public knowledge of brain research. In only 26 years, the campaign has gained 7,300 partners in 120 different countries. Partners organize events during the week to get people involved and excited about brain science, such as lectures, experiments, labs, and public displays.
In 2021, there were events hosted by Brain Awareness Week partners in over 45 countries and 35 states. This included open houses and tours at neuroscience laboratories, universities sharing their research, and even a video-making contest open to all to promote brain awareness.
From young children, to teenagers, to adults, everyone has a chance to learn something fun and new at Brain Awareness Week.
How do I get involved?
- Reach out to your school and local organizations to see if they participate in Brain Awareness Week! You can encourage organizations to become Brain Awareness Week partners here. As a partner, you can organize activities and events for everyone in your community and get them excited to learn about the brain. You can invite a professional to talk about brain science, gather people to create an art display about the brain, or have educational games. The possibilities are only limited to your own imagination.
- Participate in nationwide or global events open to all such as online university lectures and activities hosted by corporations, or check out the Brain Awareness Week social media.
- Learn about the brain! There are plenty of online resources and books about the brain, as well as educational events like webinars provided during Brain Awareness Week. Educate yourself and learn fun facts about this incredible and complex organ.
Even better, if you are passionate about brain science, participate in year-round brain awareness events. To get started, you can check out events from the Dana Foundation. Help spread the word about brain science and pave the way for future scientists and discoveries!
Written By: Viven Chen
Date: March 20, 2022
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