Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
3
Year:
2020
Type of Events Held:
- Brain Bee
- Brain Fair
- Other
- Other: YouTube videos educating children about how the brain works
Target Audiences:
- Elementary school students (1-5)
- High school students (9-12)
Approximate Number of People Reached:
300+? (online audience)
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
We held two BAW events (although not technically during the official BA week): our sixth regional Brain Bee for area high school students and a Brain Fair at a local public elementary school, where 12th grade students teach younger students (3rd/4th/5th graders) about the brain. The Bee and Brain Fair were very successful, and we were able to give out “freebies” from the DANA Alliance at both events, which was very helpful and appreciated. Our goal for the Brain Bee continues to be to reach more high schools for additional participation, although we had the most participation we’ve ever had this year. Our goals for the Brain Fair were met, and we had intended to go back to Burnet this spring, but the Coronavirus did not allow us to do so. Lastly, my students are currently working on making YouTube videos (the audience is 4th grade students) about how the brain works to post on a YouTube channel that will be made available to the public.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- Emails
- Posters/Flyers
- Website
- Social Media
- Other
Other Publicity Methods:
word of mouth
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:
- Brain Awareness Week Stickers
- Brain Awareness Week Pencils
- Brain-shaped Erasers
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- New Fact Sheets
- Activities/Experiments
- New Puzzles/Games
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?
Educating the community about how the brain works is extremely important. Many people think the brain is too complicated to understand and want to shy away from the science, but neuroscience is very accessible and relevant to everyone. The kids at Burnet Elementary LOVED hearing about brain health, in particular and strategies to control their emotions.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
A focus on brain health was HUGE for the public school population, as they are really needing a lot of help in that area.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
Yes! Some cool facts we could share out, women neuroscientists, etc.
