~ Neuroscience for Kids - Brain Awareness Week (2006)
University of Washington
Brain Awareness Week - 2006

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is a nationwide effort organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and the Society for Neuroscience to promote the public and personal benefits of brain research. The official week for BAW was March 13-19, 2006, but the whole month of March was filled with activities. Classroom visits and an Open House made BAW at the University of Washington a real success.

The Open House was supported by the UW Department of Anesthesiology, Pacific Cascade Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience and University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials.

University of Washington BAW Open House

Map of Exhibits

 On March 22, 320 students attended the University of Washington Brain Awareness Week Open House (10 am to 1 pm; Health Sciences Bldg., 3rd Floor Lobby).

To start the Open House, students attended an interactive, multimedia "Brain Assembly" to learn about the nervous system. Students then visited exhibits set up by University of Washington departments and other organizations. Students were connected to an EEG machine to record their brain waves (EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology) and to a transcranial Doppler machine to measure their brain blood flow (UW Dept. of Anesthesiology). The UW Department of Biological Structure had a comparative neuroanatomy display and the Neurobiology and Behavior Program had an exhibit to test the senses and to learn about natural neurotoxins. The Pacific Science Center provided many exhibits that they bring out to schools and had a real human brain for the students to hold. The DO-IT program, UW Department of Otolaryngology, UW Department of Medicine, Allen Institute for Brain Science, UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, and Seattle Hydrocephalus Support Group also provided exhibits.

Open House Activities

Brain Blood Flow
EEG Recording
Mirror Drawing

EEG Recording
Face Painting
Brain Comparisons
All photographs by Ellen Kuwana

Comments from Students about the Open House
  • "I learned that brain stuff can be really fun and exciting."
  • "I thought your talk was really fun and exciting because you involved us instead of just talking to us."
  • "I loved the Braille Station because it showed us which letters are which and the Braille machine was fascinating because there were only 6 keys."
  • "It was highly educational; we both agree that the brain is very fascinating."
  • "That field trip was the first time I saw a real brain; it was exhilarating!"
  • "Thank you again for helping us kick off our work on the brain."

BACK TO: Brain Awareness Week 2005 Brain Awareness Week 2004 Table of Contents
Brain Awareness Week 2003 Brain Awareness Week 2002
Brain Awareness Week 2001 Brain Awareness Week 2000
Brain Awareness Week 1999 Brain Awareness Week 1998

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