Brain Awareness Week 2009, March 16-22

Brain Awareness Week 2009 is an international effort organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives to advance public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. The Dana Alliance is joined in the campaign by partners in the United States and around the world, including medical and research organizations; patient advocacy groups; the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies; service groups; hospitals and universities; K-12 schools; and professional organizations.

A Letter from the NINDS Director

Building Partnerships: Researchers talking with the public about science.
NINDS is entrusted by the public to fund research in neuroscience and regularly reports on the value of the public’s investment. To best transmit this message, NINDS relies upon neuroscientists to routinely venture out of the lab and share their knowledge and passion with non scientists. At a recent NINDS planning meeting on the future of neuroscience, the panel identified the need to educate the public about neuroscience as a high priority goal. The public trust in science needs to be nurtured at the grass roots level and can not be taken for granted. By making the extra effort to create partnerships with your communities, each of you will contribute significantly to enhancing the public’s understanding of neuroscience research. Brain Awareness Week is an excellent opportunity to get involved in public education. There are also many other ways to get involved throughout the year. I invite you to find out how you can get involved.

NIH Celebrates Brain Awareness Week.

NINDS is very pleased to be participating in this year's Brain Awareness Week activities at the National Museum of Health and Medicine/Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This innovative program for middle school students is designed to instill a sense of excitement about neuroscience as well as an understanding of current research and how it translates into clinical practice.

This year, as in the past, NINDS joins other NIH institutes that focus on neuroscience: the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute on Aging.

Events such as Brain Awareness Week and Take Your Child to Work Day are excellent opportunities for our intramural and extramural scientists to expose children to the world of neuroscience and encourage them to consider careers in biomedical research.

Sincerely,
Story C. Landis, Ph.D., NINDS Director
Preview the NIH Programs During Brain Awareness Week