brain awareness week
10 - 16 March 2008

International Brain Awareness week is March 10-16, 2008. The Brain Awareness Week (BAW) campaign, launched in 1996, has united the Society for Neuroscience with The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and a coalition of over 1,200 sciences, advocacy, and other health organizations world-wide, that share an interest in elevating public awareness of brain and nervous system research.

Representatives from universities across the Western Cape, including, University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch, University of the Western Cape, and others, have come together to organize local lectures, exhibits, talks for school children, and other educational activities for the general public to demonstrate the importance of basic neuroscience research and knowledge to the health and well-being of the public. 

The Mental Health Information Centre and the MRC Unit on Stress and Anxiety Disorders has a two day exhibition tour planned for two disadvantaged schools in the Northern Suburbs. The scholars will be taken on a tour through the University of Stellenbosch Medical Campus, where they will be visiting the brand new MRI Brain Imaging Centre; the Medical School’s Museum and then have an educational film to educate them on brain awareness and the effects of substances on the brain.

The Mental Health Information Centre (MHIC) is planning an International Anxiety Disorder Symposium, which will be held at Westin Grand Arabella Quays, Cape Town, on March 17-18, 2008. The focus of this conference will be on the most recent advances in treatment and assessment of anxiety disorders, and closely related conditions such as depression.  Anxiety disorders are one of the most common yet least diagnosed mental disorders and because of their disabling and costly nature they deserve special attention.

 Could we please count on your help informing the community of these various educational activities that we will be planning as well as a possible representative from your organization to cover our kick-off talk which will be hosted by local scientists and researchers in the field of neuroscience and brain research? Society participation is essential for taking the message to the public about the importance of neuroscience research and brain health.

If you will be able to offer some media coverage, please feel free to contact Erica.nielsen@uct.ac.za or Muriel at mckoop@sun.ac.za