What is Brain Awareness Week?

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is a global campaign to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. Brain Awareness Week also aims to increase community awareness of the potential for improving the long-term health of the brain through lifestyle changes and risk-reduction strategies. The Dana Alliance, based in New York, founded BAW 16 years ago, and continues to administer the campaign alongside the American Society for Neuroscience.

The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand has been an official Brain Awareness Week partner for seven years. From modest beginnings, the Foundation has developed Brain Awareness Week into a significant public education event with a robust national programme of ‘Brain Days’.

For one week every March, Brain Awareness Week unites the global efforts of over 2,200 universities, hospitals, patient groups, government agencies, schools, service organisations and professional organisations in 76 countries in a week-long celebration of the brain. During Brain Awareness Week, campaign partners organise creative and innovative activities in their communities to educate and excite people of all ages about the brain and brain research. Events are limited only by the organisers’ imaginations!

In 2011, the Auckland Brain Day event broke a (global) Brain Awareness Week partner record; more than 3,000 people attended the open day to listen to lectures on brain research, meet neurological support groups, view displays and laboratory demonstrations, meet neuroscientists, and participate in various brain-focused challenges and activities. This was the largest-attended event held in the history of Brain Awareness Week ever! Brain Days in other centres are also incredibly well attended and in 2013 we are holding Brain Days in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and also a special public lecture in Queenstown.

Kiwi brain scientists’ world-leading research on the human brain has led to exciting new insights into the treatment of brain disorders – it has also helped to raise awareness of the huge importance of brain health and the vital need for continuing research. The Neurological Foundation has been sponsoring New Zealand’s neuroscientists for over forty years and has simultaneously been building public brain health awareness. We are excited to be both a part of the history, and a cornerstone of the future of neuroscience!