Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
9
Year:
2016
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
- Other
- School Program
- Workshop
- Other: Brain Fair
- Other: Speaker panels
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students(1-5)
- General Public
- High School students(9-12)
- Middle school students(6-8)
- Patients & Caregivers
- Professionals
- University students
Approximate Number of People Reached:
1500
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Goal: To inspire the next generation of neuroscientists and draw attention to the wealth of brain-related research in Rhode Island. Events included: -Panel discussion on science and treatment of concussion -Evening of short talks on experience and science of mental illness -2 film screenings: PTSD in The Deer Hunter and bipolar disorder in Infinitely Polar Bear -Expressive arts workshop -Art exhibit: Memory Networks -Storytelling about neuroscience -Brown Brain Fair, featuring 28 labs, organizations, and institutes (won Event of the Year award from Brown U’s Student Activities Office) -One elementary school and 4 high school visits from neuroscientists. We feel this week of activities was immensely successful, with each event being well-attended (600 visitors to the Brain Fair), and reaching beyond those directly involved through media coverage in local newspapers, radio, and TV. It was the first Brain Week RI and we plan to grow in future years. For RI, looking to expand science activities, especially neuroscience, as a new economic area, this is an exciting and relevant week of activities.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- Calendar Listings (newspapers, radio, television)
- Emails
- Posters/Flyers
- Press Release/Media Advisory
- Website
- Social Media
- Other
Other Publicity Methods:
NPR underwriting
Which of These Publicity Methods Was The Most Successful?
Resources
Of the Dana Foundation publications/resources distributed at your event(s), if any, please indicate the three most popular. Please choose up to three. If "other," please indicate below:
- It’s Mindboggling!
- BAW Stickers
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Fact Sheets
- New Puzzles/Games
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- BAW Logos
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
BAW benefited our organization by increasing our visibility locally and growing our community of supporters. Overall, BAW was a great way for different people in the neuroscience research community to come together and learn more about each other’s work, as well as a way to promote neuroscience in Rhode Island as a growing industry (which it is).
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
Planning WAY ahead is helpful, though we threw this together in about 2 months. We will be planning much earlier for Brain Week 2017. Also, we found local media to be very interested — let them know what you’re doing!
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
No, but mainly because I just wasn’t paying too much attention to Facebook.
