Jaya Viswanathan, PhD, is a research program analyst in the Division of Neuroscience at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and author of the children’s book “Baby Senses: A Sensory Neuroscience Primer for All Ages.” Here, she shares how she planned and executed two Brain Awareness Week (BAW) events to build neuroscience literacy among young people and engage the local community in discussions about the brain.
Since its inception in 1996, Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is an annual global campaign that aims to increase public awareness of brain research, explore its impact on everyday life and society, reduce stigma related to brain disorders, and educate the public about recent advances in research. It is an opportunity for researchers to engage the lay public and spark interest in the brain.
Participating in BAW activities since 2010, Jaya has always been inspired by the creativity and effort required to organize these events. As a neuroscientist and recent author, she was excited for her first BAW following the release of her book. She decided to use her author platform to create neuroscience knowledge resources for young people and engage the local community.
In partnership with children’s author Karen White Porter, Jaya co-created a series of videos featuring a puppet named Ada, who asked questions about neuroscience. These videos, aimed at children ages four and up, were released daily during BAW across multiple social media platforms, utilizing storytelling techniques to make complex content accessible and fun.
To further engage with the community, Jaya, with the help of local friends, organized a neuroscience and art salon at the neighborhood library. With the collaboration of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kate Woodsome, the event was enriched, providing an expansive and memorable conversation.
Based on these experiences, Jaya shares some tips for organizing successful events for lay audiences:
Seek advice from people with skills complementary to yours to create events and resources with broad appeal.
Find local organizations that will help publicize your event, such as libraries, literacy groups, and philanthropic and scientific organizations.
Search for places that can provide spaces for events in an accessible way. Utilize local opportunities for advertising in addition to social media, such as neighborhood email lists and event listings in local publications. On the day of the event, arrive early to organize everything and provide refreshments for participants and volunteers as the venue allows.
Be welcoming and encourage questions of all types, even if you don’t know the answer, to foster curiosity.
After the event, thank everyone who helped and follow up accordingly, including updating the website with all discussions published and accessible. Despite the challenges faced, Jaya highlights the importance of collaborating with exceptional and kind people whose missions align with yours.
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