Brain Awareness Week 2011 – a Week of Something on the Brain

11 March 2011

14 – 20 March 2011

Brain Awareness Week 2011 is here again, and the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand is excited to present the biggest-ever programme of Brain Days and regional public lectures in the history of the Foundation-sponsored initiative in this country. All events are free to the public, and no pre-registration is required.

For one week every March, Brain Awareness Week unites the global efforts of over 2200 universities, hospitals, patient groups, government agencies, schools, service organisations and professional organisations in 76 countries in a week-long celebration of the brain. Each country marks the week differently, and in New Zealand the initiative has grown over the last six years from the modest beginnings of one Open Day to an intensive public brain health awareness programme. This year, from Monday 14 March, New Zealanders can hear and share the science of the human brain from many of this country’s leading neuroscientists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists at the four Brain Days and 13 regional public lectures planned in cities and towns from Whangarei to Invercargill. Christchurch had been added to the schedule of Brain Days in Whangarei, Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, but has been cancelled. Free public lectures will feature in new areas such as Invercargill, Queenstown, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Gisborne and Pukekohe. Rangiora had also been added to this year’s lecture line-up but has been cancelled.

A new era of discovery has been emerging in the field of brain research since the turn of this century, and New Zealand’s scientists and clinicians, among the best in the world, are harnessing their incredible knowledge to unearth the mysteries of the brain and gain insight into the devastating disorders that can affect it. Our stellar speaker line-up includes scientists and clinicians from nearly every university and District Health Board in the country and boasts many whose research has made worldwide headlines. From lectures such as “Understanding how the brain can be repaired after stroke” to “Teaching the brain to overcome neurological disease,” this year’s Brain Awareness Week offers an excellent opportunity for members of the public to tap into some of the best brains and hear about their incredible work in the laboratory and clinic.

The dedicated Brain Awareness Week website www.brainweek.co.nz features in-depth information about each lecture and event, including speaker bios, times and venues. The full and comprehensive Auckland Brain Day programme is also featured on the site – last year’s event was the highest-attended (globally) in the history of Brain Awareness Week, so we look forward to beating the record again!

The Neurological Foundation has been able to present this year’s extensive programme thanks to the huge commitment of speakers, and various dedicated partners including the Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland; Parkinson’s Auckland; the Tiaho Trust, Whangarei; Alzheimer’s Wanganui; Victoria University of Wellington; Wakatipu U3A; the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago and all of the participating community support groups.

• Brain Day Christchurch and the Rangiora public lecture have been cancelled.

• Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is a global campaign to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. Brain Awareness Week also aims to increase community awareness of the potential for improving the long-term health of the brain through lifestyle changes and risk-reduction strategies. The Dana Alliance, based in New York, founded BAW 15 years ago, and continues to administer the campaign alongside the American Society for Neuroscience. The Neurological Foundation is an official partner to the Dana Alliance.

• There is no Grow your brain in 7 days website campaign this year – instead, the focus is on spreading the word about the wonders of neuroscience with this bigger public lecture and event programme. The website campaign will return in the future.

• Finding ways to prevent, treat and cure neurological disease is the primary goal of neuroscience research, and the Neurological Foundation is committed to helping achieve this by funding neurological research in New Zealand. For information about the Foundation’s work and the important research work funded, go to www.neurological.org.nz

Brain Day Auckland and Auckland public lectures are generously supported by the Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment Fund proudly administered by Guardian Trust.
The Napier public lecture is generously supported by the Dowdall Trust, administered by the Public Trust.
Whangarei Brain Day is generously supported by the A K Franks Charitable Trust (Rotary Club of Whangarei), and the Laurence William Nelson Trust, administered by the Public Trust.

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Pictured: Six of New Zealand’s leading neuroscientists who will be presenting lectures during Brain Awareness Week. Standing, L-R: Associate Professor Bronwen Connor, University of Auckland; Dr John Reynolds, University of Otago; Professor Cliff Abraham, University of Otago; Dr Andrew Clarkson, University of Otago. Seated, L-R: Dr Cathy Stinear, University of Auckland; Dr Maurice Curtis, University of Auckland

ENDS

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