Brain Awareness Campaign Engages Audiences Worldwide

New York, NY, March 7, 2018—How does stress alter the brain? What can art tell us about how we perceive the world? What steps can you take to lead a brain-healthy life? These are the kinds of diverse questions being addressed at events planned for next week’s Brain Awareness Week (March 12-18), the global campaign to promote the promise and progress of brain research, now in its 23^rd year.

Coordinated by the Dana Foundation, the campaign attracts hundreds of partners worldwide, from educational institutions and museums to hospitals and government agencies. Partners host large- and small-scale fun and informative activities, showing how important brain research is in our daily lives and, hopefully, inspiring future generations of neuroscientists. Partners embrace that challenge by organizing a variety of events: lab tours, school visits, art exhibits, lectures, trivia, and storytelling are not uncommon programs. The public can find events in their areas by searching the Brain Awareness Week International Calendar of Events.

“We are always impressed by the diversity of events planned by our dedicated partners, and are inspired and grateful for their continued enthusiasm for this yearly campaign,” said Kathleen Roina, director of the Brain Awareness Campaign. “This year, we’ve had a notable increase in the number of new partners and we are so happy to welcome them to the Brain Awareness Week movement!”

To aid in this important outreach, the Dana Foundation offers partners, many of whom are K-12 schools, advice and an assortment of free materials about the brain, including primers, fact sheets, lesson plans, and brain-themed puzzles that they can share with their audiences. Materials target different age groups, and while all are available in English, many are also available in other languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Turkish. These materials can be accessed year-round.

But Brain Awareness Week participation is not limited to in-person events. Many partners use social media to reach their audiences, by hosting webinars and posting messages that resonate with their communities. To follow and participate in the conversations online, search and use the official Brain Awareness Week hashtag, #brainweek.

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The Dana Foundation is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing understanding about the brain in health and disease through research grants and public outreach.