Brain Awareness Week Kicks Off March 11-17, 2002
For immediate release.
NR-02-02 (sent 3/11/02). For more information, please call Joe Carey at (202) 745-5138.
BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK KICKS OFF MARCH 11-17, 2002
WASHINGTON, D.C. March 11, 2002 — Brain Awareness Week, which elevates public awareness and creates interest in brain and nervous system research, takes place this week in classrooms, laboratories and lecture halls across the nation.
A major event will occur at Malcolm X Elementary School in Washington, DC. On March 13 students will engage in brain education projects and attend a hands-on demonstration conducted by neuroscientist Paul Aravich, PhD, of the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. Students in all classes from Headstart through Grade 6 will participate. The demonstration will be from 10 am until noon.
"This groundbreaking project will enhance as well as educate our students about the magnificent brain," says Malcolm X principal Vaughn Kimbrough. "This experience will allow students to think about neuroscience as a career and encourage them to seek careers in this field."
Invited guests include Washington, DC Mayor Anthony Williams and DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Williams has signed a proclamation designating March 11-17 as Brain Awareness Week in Washington, DC. In greetings to those observing Brain Awareness Week (BAW), President George Bush said, "I commend all the scientists, health professionals, educators, and all those working to increase brain awareness and to promote the importance of brain related research."
Reporters interested in attending should call Ms. Princella Hemby, vice-principal of Malcolm X Elementary School, at (202) 645-3409 or Joe Carey, public information director, Society for Neuroscience, at (202) 745-5138.
Sponsored by the Society for Neuroscience and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, BAW involves more than 1,200 scientists, patient advocates, and members of health care organizations. They organize educational events emphasizing the importance of basic neuroscience research to the health and well-being of the American public. Activities during the week of March 11-17 include classroom visits, laboratory tours, lectures and exhibits. This year's events will be the seventh annual BAW.
Many of the activities are aimed at elementary, junior high and high school audiences and serve to develop a budding interest in neuroscience for young people. School-age children often decide to study neuroscience in college after attending BAW events.
Society for Neuroscience members have branched out to wider audiences, holding evening lectures for members of the public and visiting nursing homes to speak about the latest advances in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The Society for Neuroscience, with more than 29,000 members is the world's largest organization of basic researchers and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system.
For more information about the Brain Awareness Week events please visit the Society for Neuroscience Brain Awareness Week web page at: http://www.sfn.org/BAW/, and the Dana Alliance page at: http://www.dana.org/brainweek/
