Argentinian Society of Neurosciences (SAN)

We organized a film festival and discussion forum of neuropathologies. It was performed at evening time, Monday to Friday. Each day was dedicated to a single pathology: Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Autism spectrum disorders, multiple and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and schizophrenia. The activity schedule included an introductory section, performed by a young scientist (PhD students and postdoc and young researchers), followed by independent short films screening, and ended with an open (and surprisingly active) discussion forum with researchers, clinic’s professionals, patients and their relatives, and the general audience. It was an outstanding experience with positive results. We received immediately interest from the associations, patients and professionals (scientists, clinics, film-makers) in taking part in the project. The most remarkably result was the number of attendants, some of them participating the whole week, and their enthusiastic participation in the debate. The professionals involved were: Andrea Otamendi (Psychologist, team coordinator); Leandro Oliveros (Biochemist, team member); Cecilia Perondi (Biologist, PhD student, team member); Maximiliano Rios (Biochemist, PhD student, plastic artist, team member); Cecilia Otamendi (Kinesiologist); Milva Gonzalez (Occupational therapist); Anahí Bignante (PhD, young researcher); Silvia Ventre (Psychologist); Silvia Prediger (Psychologist); Inés Zalosnik (Biologist, PhD student); Sebastián Piemontesi (Psychologist); Francisco Rapela (Neurologist); Anabela Palandri (PhD, postdoc researcher); Martin Bedouret (ALS patient); Martín Basmadjian (Biochemist; Pharmacist, PhD student); Adrían Bueno (PhD; professor, researcher)

It became a communitary space to express negative/positive feelings of the patients and their relatives, to better understand their reality and to break down with tabu over the people affected by neuropathologies. Moreover, it was an excellent opportunity to share the scientific contributions to a better understanding of the diseases and to get people’s attention regarding the importance of the scientists’ work. The main immediate outcome was the audience’s feedback celebrating the activity.

It would be very interesting to shape a divulgation media, like a newsletter or journal, to share the experience in paper/composition form.