Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
1
Year:
2017
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students(1-5)
- General Public
- High School students(9-12)
- Middle school students(6-8)
Approximate Number of People Reached:
200
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Four faculty and about 18 students from the Psychology Department had brain-related exhibits at the Millcreek Mall in Northwestern Pennsylvania. There were visual and auditory illusions, candy neurons, mirror tracing, a poster with brain myths vs. facts, and a portable EMG (from Backyard Brains), all explained and directed by Edinboro faculty and students. Once again, children could associate brain structure and function using a bean bag toss game that controlled Brainy the Robot (our mascot), who interacted and played with them. People took home goody bags with BAW materials, stickers, and pencils. We got a great response once again from the crowd. Many parents were happy that their children were learning as they worked on all the activities.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Calendar Listings (newspapers, radio, television)
- Press Release/Media Advisory
- Website
- Social Media
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 Pencils and Erasers
- The Mindboggling Workbook
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Activities/Experiments
- 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?
Northwestern PA has many excellent four-year institutions, but no major research centers and few neuroscience programs. This event integrates neuroscience right into the community, helping children see and understand the nervous system and mental health to an extent that they simply do not otherwise get. Caregivers often have stories about how brain health has had an impact on their lives, but that it’s hard to make kids understand. BAW really bridges that gap and forces that conversation
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
Our event has thrived for eight years because we set up in the community. People are more than happy to take part. We started doing this because it was difficult to get into schools, which often have a set curriculum with no flexibility, so we got creative with a way to reach a lot of kids of all ages. Undergraduates are great for that. Our volunteers are friendly, engaging, and bright.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
No. I liked sharing and retweeting details of other events to get people ready for ours.
