Volunteers Needed for Brain Awareness 2024!

Every year, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Ottawa chapter holds Brain Awareness, where our volunteers visit schools in the Ottawa area to teach students about the brain. This year, our annual Brain Awareness presentations will be held from March 4 to 8.

In addition to the in-school presentations, our volunteers also host another exciting event at the Museum of Science & Technology, teaching kids about the wonders of the brain. March 13 to 15 from 11am to 3pm we will be doing interactive Backyard Brain demos, including the robotic claw, human-to-human interface, mini-EEG, and reaction time tests!

We are looking for volunteers for each of the above events. More info below!

In-school Presentations

Volunteers will be responsible for

• Attending a 1-hour training session
  • Training sessions are designed around a pre-recorded online video that you can complete at your own convenience
  • Training is mandatory for all undergraduate volunteers
• Communicating with a teacher to schedule a presentation
• Communicating, preparing, and practicing with their partner prior to the presentation
• Presenting pre-made presentations in a fun and engaging way
• Delivering science material in an age-appropriate way
• Representing SfN Ottawa in a professional manner

Volunteers will receive

• Experience in science communication, presenting & teaching
• Carleton students can add the position to their CCR
• Opportunity to network with graduate students and faculty members
• Volunteers can receive a letter of reference or verification for med school

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up to present with friends! You can request to be partnered with a friend for your presentation, so long as they have also submitted a registration form.

Volunteer Requirements

• Volunteers will be responsible for arranging transportation to and from your presentation
  • We do our best to match volunteers who take public transit with schools along these routes, and match volunteers to those who have vehicles when we can. 
• Undergraduate (2nd/3rd/4th year) student studying neuroscience or a related discipline such as biology, cognitive science, psychology, or health science OR Graduate student in the Faculty of Science
• Faculty alumni and other applicable members are encouraged to apply to volunteer, but please be aware that presentations are given to students first.

Brain Awareness at the Museum

Volunteers will be responsible for

• Attending a 1.5-hour training session
  • Training sessions will take place at Carleton University on the following dates:
    • Tuesday, February 27th at 6pm
    • Thursday, February 29th at 6pm
    • Saturday, March 2nd at 12pm
• Delivering hands-on demonstrations and activities at the Museum of Science and Technology
  • On any given day, the available shifts are as follows:
    • 11am – 1 pm OR 1pm – 3pm (2 hrs)
    • 11am – 3pm (4 hrs)
• Representing SfN Ottawa in a professional manner

Volunteers will receive

• Free SfN Ottawa T-shirt provided during training
• Experience in science communication, presenting & teaching
• Carleton students can add the position to their CCR
• Opportunity to network with graduate students and faculty members
• Volunteers can receive a letter of reference or verification for med school

Volunteer Requirements

• Volunteers will be responsible for arranging transportation to and from the museum (those arriving by car will receive free parking)
• Undergraduate (2nd/3rd/4th year) student studying neuroscience or a related discipline such as biology, cognitive science, psychology, or health science OR Graduate student in the Faculty of Science
• Faculty alumni and other applicable members are encouraged to apply to volunteer, but please be aware that presentations are given to students first. 

French volunteers needed! The Museum of Science & Technology is a national museum, which means we need a minimum of one French-speaking volunteer per day. If you speak French, you are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Interested? Click Here to Apply!

The deadline to apply is February 16th. You will be contacted by February 20th if you have been selected to be a volunteer.

If you have additional questions, please contact us directly at brain.awareness.sfn@gmail.com.