Evolution Foundation

Evolution Foundation Lectures took place in four cities of Russia from 13 to 18 of March 2018 as part of the Brain Awareness Week. The initiative was extremely successful. Each event last 2.5 to 4 hours long. In Samara and Nizhny Novgorod Irina Yakutenko, biologist, science journalist and author took to the stage to talk about the way our brain works when trying to overcome a temptation, and why it is harder for some of us. In Kazan and Ulianovsk, Alexaner Panchin, PhD, Senior Research scientist, and author gave lectures on the connections between the paranormal and neurobiological basis for it and the way the brain can trick itself. In each of four cities local scientists and science communicators also gave public talks. In Nizhny Novgorod – Irina Mukhina, Doctor of Biology, in Samara – Evgeniya Chibikova, pediatric psychiatrist, and in Kazan and Ulianovsk – Aleksander Granitsa, psychiatrist. The format of the event is called “double lectures,” which is successfully used by the Evolution Foundation for over two years and became a recognized brand in Russia. Overall about 850 people learned about neurobiology of the brain and about 10 000 were exposed to the advertising campaign and discovered the initiative of the Brain Awareness Week: to discuss current research in the neurosciences and underline the importance of studying the brain. In all, the event was executed according to plan, taking into account the media campaign. We were able to organize 4 lectures instead of 3 and the presenters were not the ones stated in the Project Proposal, but they were equally professional and knowledgeable and added value to the overall experience.