Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
1
Year:
2016
Type of Events Held:
- Lecture/ Briefing
Target Audiences:
- Other
- Professionals
- Other: Teachers of psychology
Approximate Number of People Reached:
13 teachers +hundreds of their students
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Dr. Brian Balin spoke on Alzheimer’s research and brain anatomy. His presentation consisted of 38 slides on Alzheimer’s research and background on both familial Alzheimer’s and sporadic Alzheimer’s. He spoke of amyloid accumulations and tau neurofibrillary tangles. He also shared his own original research which points to brain infections as a potential cause of Alzheimers. His research tested if chlamydia pneumonia passed through a mouse’s olfactory cells could cause amyloid plaques and infections. His conclusions about infections invading the brain through the nose was confirmed. After his talk, he dissected a human brain: Dr. Balin pointed out important areas and functions. FREE BAW materials were distributed for teachers to share with their students. The pencils with brain erasers were popular as well as some of the book materials “MindBogglers” etc.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Emails
- Social Media
Other Publicity Methods:
http://teachinghighschoolpsychology.blogspot.com/2016/03/phi-topss-announces-brain-week-meetup.html PHOTOS https://goo.gl/photos/EEjejZez43AkaiAt8
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!
- Staying Sharp Bookmark
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Lesson Plans
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- BAW Logos
- BAW Participation Certificate
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
This was an amazing opportunity to learn about the brain. Psychology teachers in the state of Pennsylvania often come from a historical/social science background and have little experience with biology and neuroscience. Using BAW as a theme, we were able to invite a professor and pathologist – Dr. Brian Balin who was both enthusiastic and informative. We had a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see and hold a human, fixed brain. This hands-on experience will influence each teacher’s expertise.
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