Brain Awareness Week (BAW)—March 11-17—is less than two months away, and brains across the globe are buzzing with excitement. From India to Indiana, BAW partners, including hospitals, universities, schools, senior centers and other institutions, are getting ready for their brain bees, brain fairs, brain lectures, brain lab tours, brain dissections, brain art exhibits, brain performances and...you get the picture.
For those new to BAW, it is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. Public outreach that propagates breakthroughs in recent brain research can help children and adults learn how to live a more brain-healthy lifestyle and, by increasing the public’s awareness, also increase their support for funding further research. With these benefits in mind, the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI) created Brain Awareness Week in 1996.
Here at DABI we continue to promote Brain Awareness Week around the world through our Brain Awareness Week partners. Becoming a BAW partner is free and easy. When signing up as partner on the BAW website (www.dana.org/brainweek/), you join hundreds of other institutions around the world who participate in the campaign. You will be able to post your event information to the BAW International Calendar, and gain access to the free promotional materials and educational publications available for order in bulk quantities, as well as downloadable logos and graphic materials like flyers, posters and web banners.
This year the BAW publications and resources are stacked with all the returning favorites including the brain-shaped erasers and pencils, the Q&A pamphlet, the Mindboggling series of booklets, and the Staying Sharp DVD and booklets. However, we do have one update to 2013 BAW order; the Stay Sharp! bookmark has a brand new look.
Some of the most exciting updates for BAW 2013 are the Other BAW Graphic Materials, also available to BAW partners only. The BAW 2013 “Get Connected” flyer, 24” x 36” poster, event poster, bookmarks, and participation certificate have all been refreshed with a new, exciting design. Partners can download these items, print them out, and use them to promote their events.
Now is the time to start planning an event and taking advantage of the great, free supplies that we have to offer for BAW 2013. Remember, you must be a BAW partner to take advantage of these great resources, so register today at www.dana.org/brainweek/. Also, remember to follow the action on Twitter (hashtag #brainweek) and on Facebook (Brain Awareness Week).
--Simon Fischweicher
