Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
16 lectures, tours to 3 labs, 3 workshops, 1 school program
Year:
2022
Type of Events Held:
- Lab Tour
- Lecture/Briefing
- Online/Virtual
- School Program
- Workshop
Target Audiences:
- General Public
- High school students (9-12)
- Patients & Caregivers
- Professionals
- University students
Approximate Number of People Reached:
approx. 150 - 200 listeners per day
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
The St. Petersburg Brain Awareness Week’22 “Signal propagation” focused on neurotransmitters that perform a signaling function in the interaction of neurons. The lectures paid special attention to new clinically important brain signal molecules (Day 1: Opening Day, lectures “Proton as neuromediators of CNS”, and “Neurotrophins: from molecule to organism”; Day 5, workshop “On the cutting edge”), to the shared participation of neurotransmitters in brain diseases (Day 2, workshop “Searching a messenger”), and the impact of balance of excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters in the sleep-awakening cycle (Day 4, workshop “Molecules of sleep regulation”).
“University Saturday for schoolchildren” (Day 6) was prepared by young scientists and physicians as debate club “Neurotransmitter for genius”. Specifically, the talks were “Dopamine, motivation and learning: modern ideas”, “BDNF, physical activity and cognitive functions”, “Alarm system”: learning, stress and neurotransmitters”, “Glutamate: cognitive travel”. After a set of talks/debates, the quizzes based on presented talks with prizes as books on neuroscience were carried out.
Tours to research laboratories (Day 3: Open Labs Day), as well as quizzes, Q&As, debates, and puzzles throughout the week, added dynamic elements to the BAW program.
The main objectives of BAW “Signal propagation” – educating the audience about the integral role of neurotransmitters in the normal functioning of the brain, discussing that an imbalance in these chemicals can have serious consequences on brain functioning, and showing the progress of neuroscience in dealing with these challenges – have been achieved.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- Calendar Listings (newspapers, radio, television)
- Emails
- Posters/Flyers
- Press Release/Media Advisory
- Website
- Social Media
Which of These Publicity Methods Was The Most Successful?
Resources
What downloadable materials from the Foundation did you use for your events?
- Certificate of Participation
- Adults' Fact Sheets
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- New Fact Sheets
- New Lesson Plans
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- Brain Awareness Week Logos
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
The BAW events were very attractive for institutions and the local community. Up to 390 participants were registered to events of BAW, approx. 150 -200 daily, 2800 views of Opening Day video during BAW. About 200 schoolchildren participated in “University Saturday.” After BAW we received nice and enthusiastic feedback from participants. The archive and video records of events are available at brainweekspb.org and BrainWeekSPb YouTube channel. Post-release articles are published in local newspapers.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
It’s very helpful to add dynamic elements to the program as tours to research laboratories, debates, quizzes throughout the week. The possibility of remote participation make it possible to involve more listeners, as well as to participate from cities other than organizing city.
