Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
17
Year:
2022
Type of Events Held:
- Brain Fair
- Conference/Forum
- Exhibit
- Online/Virtual
- Social Media Campaign
- Workshop
Target Audiences:
- General Public
- Professionals
- Seniors
- University students
Approximate Number of People Reached:
+ 5,000 (scope of online activities, according to Facebook page statistics)
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Our event consisted mainly of talks (face-to-face and virtual) in which relevant topics about mental health were discussed in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The audience was able to learn more about the impact of the pandemic on mental health, the physiology of the nervous system, and some strategies to address mental health problems.
We also organized a poster contest with the idea of involving undergraduate and graduate students in scientific divulgation of mental health issues. The 25 best posters were awarded, printed, and exhibited in the venues where face-to-face activities were carried out.
In addition, we also had a small brain fair in an open recreational space, where we received people of all ages to do fun educational activities related to the cells of the nervous system, brain structure, and cortical organization. The 25 best posters of the contest were also exhibited at this venue. We included a small exhibit of vertebrate skulls and brains that drew significant public attention.
Our main objective was to share evidence-based information with the people, in an understandable tone, regarding some mental health disorders related to COVID-19 pandemic and also about some strategies to improve mental health. We think that the objective was raised satisfactorily. In addition, the activities carried out contribute positively to the development of scientific culture in the region.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Advertisements
- 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?
- Brain Break Activities Grades K-12
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Activities/Experiments
- New Puzzles/Games
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
The activities organized within the Brain Awareness Week Campaign generate a space where researchers and specialists interact with people in kindly environments, favoring the integration of the science, researchers, and institutions with the community. At the same time, the public understands why and how scientists are working to improve the knowledge about the function of the nervous system in health and diseases and the human life quality, improving the scientific culture of our community.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
It is important to take enough time to organize a good brain week edition and define a general theme for the activities of the Brain Week, as well as a work team committed to the activities to be developed. As always, the most complicated part is having sufficient financing for the activities.
