Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
1
Year:
2015
Type of Events Held:
- Conference/Forum
- Lecture/ Briefing
- Other
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students(1-5)
- Other
- Patients & Caregivers
- University students
Approximate Number of People Reached:
50
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
We coordinated a group of high school, undergraduate, graduate students, postdocs and faculty from different institutions in the Capital District region (Albany Medical Center, Neural Stem Cell Institute, Skidmore College, SUNY Albany). We started our day with a “speed dating” event, through which we could introduce ourselves to others. We had 6 speakers giving oral presentations and 20 posters. Cheese and crackers: a big success!
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- Emails
- Website
Other Publicity Methods:
We created a dedicated Facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/capitaldistrictbrainawareness?fref=ts)
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:
- Q&A: Answering Your Questions About Brain Research
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
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?
We wanted scientists to come out of their labs to communicate their scientific findings to non-aficionados. This goal was accomplished. In particular, we brought enthusiasm to the high school teachers. In addition, we got to know more about other scientists in the area that it would have been otherwise hard to meet. Interactions were fostered, no question about that.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
Our “speed-dating” idea worked beautifully and everybody greatly enjoyed it. Try it out! Get out of the lab and reach out to non-academic environment: the future generation of neuroscientists is there! Be creative!
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
No
Quotable comments which capture successful aspects of your event(s):
I learnt more at the BAD day than during my whole semester of neurobiology!
