Brain Awareness Week came to Ottawa March 8-12 as part of an initiative by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI). The non-profit organization supports university neuroscience and psychology departments, including Carleton.
Carleton became involved with DABI when a Carleton graduate student and a University of Ottawa graduate student helped restart the Ottawa chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, said Ian David Blum, treasurer of the Ottawa chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.
Blum said the organization supports DABI in the Brain Awareness Week initiative.
Brain Awareness Week began in 1996 as a global campaign, he said.
The initiative is geared towards increased public understanding of the benefits and importance of neuroscience research, Blum said.
The organization also helps provide universities with instructional aids, including model brains and material for use in educational community outreach, Blum said.
Presentations are held Ottawa-wide in both elementary and high school boards, he said. The presentations will not focus on the social aspect of drugs, dealing solely with the neurological, neurochemical and behavioural implications, Blum said.
He said the exposure could be beneficial to Carleton’s neuroscience graduate program.
“Increased participation of Carleton University in the Ottawa Chapter will highlight Carleton as housing not only cutting-edge research, but also eminent and successful graduate students and researcher,” Blum said.
As a member of the Society for Neuroscience, Carleton is able to participate in the society’s annual research conference. This conference provides Carleton students with the unique opportunity to hear leading neuroscience researchers worldwide, Blum said.
The only event currently planned to occur at Carleton will be held March 26 at the university’s Art Gallery. Blum said it will showcase neurologically-themed paintings by the well-respected, former neuroscience researcher Dr. Jane Stewart.