Every year neuroscientists around the world celebrate Brain Awareness Week, an initiative focused on increasing public enthusiasm and curiosity for neuroscience. This year our SfN Ottawa Chapter extended this celebration for 2-weeks full of educational and fun activities! 

 

For the first time since the global pandemic in 2020, our volunteers were able to go in-person to visit schools throughout Ottawa. From March 6 to 10 students from grades 3 to 12 enjoyed presentations sharing the wonders of the brain and power of neuroscience. Some of the most popular topics included how technology and video games affect their brain, why sleep is so important, and how to cope with stress. Thanks to the help of over 50 volunteers, these presentations were able to reach approximately 815 students in the Ottawa area! This year our chapter reached approximately 1,600 kids through our Brain Awareness Week initiatives! We owe the success of both of these events to our dedicated volunteers, who made time in their busy schedule to inspire the future generation of scientists.

 

 After visiting students in the classroom, our volunteers shifted gears and brought their love for neuroscience to the Museum of Science and Technology. From March 13 to 16 we featured hands-on activities using our Backyard Brains Kits, to demonstrate the wonders of the nervous system. Each day we were visited by over 200 kids who enjoyed seeing their brain waves using EEG or controlling their parents arm using their brain! Everyone from volunteers to parents had a great time connecting with the community at this event. 

 

Stay Connected

The Society for Neuroscience Ottawa Chapter is passionate about bringing neuroscience to the community. We are a volunteer run organization and offer these outreach initiatives free of charge. If you are interested in receiving more information about our brain awareness week events, please contact us at brain.awareness@sfn-ottawa.ca