Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
one
Year:
2016
Type of Events Held:
- School Program
Target Audiences:
- Middle school students(6-8)
Approximate Number of People Reached:
250
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Eleven psychology students and two faculty members brought the UMD Psychology Neuroscience Outreach program to surrounding high schools. The program was done in association with the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and a strategic initiative grant to Dr. Rebeca Gilbertson. The presenting students consisted of both undergraduate and graduate students fulfilling a requirement for the graduate physiology class at UMD, being part of a research project, or funded by a public engagement grant. Presentations were done at Mountain Iron-Buhl High School, Cloquet Middle School, and Superior High School with about 250 7th grade students being reached. The program from Cloquet Middle School was featured in the local media including Fox 21, Northland News Center, and the Pine Journal. The next activity was hands on. The students were each given a paper brain kit to make a functional brain cap and were instructed to build it along with the UMD students. Each area of the brain was gone over and the students wrote down on the cap what lobe corresponded to what function. At the end of each group questions were asked of the students relating to the activities. Following, middle school students dissected sheep brains in small groups guided by UMD Psychology undergraduate and graduate students. Sixty students (2 classrooms) per block, four blocks were covered.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Press Release/Media Advisory
- Website
- Social Media
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:
- BAW Stickers
- BAW Pencils and Erasers
- BAW Buttons
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?
Assisted in public engagement between university and community. Positive news story about the university.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
Communication with public engagement partner. Plan to arrive early and to be adaptive and quick with setup. Many hands make light work.
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