Introduction
Since 2000, the National Museum of Health and Medicine has been proud to host Brain Awareness Week.
National Brain Awareness Week programs were first established by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (Dana) in 1996, linking scientists, clinicians, journalists, and other educators (all “partners in education”) in an annual effort to raise public awareness about the brain and brain science.
In 2000, Dana joined forces with NMHM to develop a program designed especially for middle school students. The program has helped to instill a sense of excitement of science, while bringing awareness and understanding of current research and its translation into clinical practice to our young audience.
Our greatest hope is that Brain Awareness Week will inspire a new generation of scientists.
What happens during Brain Awareness Week?
During Brain Awareness Week, the Museum hosts our "Partners in Education" (see below) who engage visiting students (grades 5-8) with hands-on stations, with a focus on brain anatomy and topics related to neuroscience. Each day will include two sessions (morning and afternoon), and students will rotate in small groups through the stations. A plenary address before each session will introduce brain anatomy and offer other highlights to our budding neuroscientists.
What are the Brain Awareness Week activity stations?
Each day, our partners will offer a different range of activities. Here are a few examples:
