The Dana Foundation’s Brain Awareness Week [BAW]— a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research—is making it’s mark on NYC and PALNYC has the scoop on some of the most anticipated events taking place this week. With explorative art, hands-on workshops and informative sessions from organizations like Mount Sainai Hospital, The Rubin Museum of Art, NYU Langone Medical Center, and Discovery Times Square, BAW promises something for everyone.
For parents looking to get their kids interested in brain health, fun, family-focused events are schedule throughout the week. The interactive BioBase— a science lab housed in The Lower East Side Girls Club will feature hands-on learning stations that will teach kids about the brain from 3-7 p.m on Thursday, March 19. Discovery Times Square will host a Brain Party Saturday, March 21st, in addition to offering discounted tickets to the Body Plus Exhibit in honor of BAW. The Brain Party will take place from 11am-1pm, kids will learn about brain science from a real neurologist, and even get to examine brain specimens.
Workshops suited to an all-adult audience will also be featured throughout the week including Brains and Brews with NYU Professors Eric Klann and Joseph LeDoux, two world-renowned neuroscientists from NYU who will talk about how the brain remembers in a way everyone can understand. This event will feature live music, brain trivia with prizes and as the name suggests, cold brews.
Read on to learn more about the exciting events going on for Brain Awareness Week and be sure to check out the PALNYC Spring Calendar of Events for a frequently updated list of workshops, events and conferences suited for NYC parents.
More Brain Awareness Week events:
tuesday, march 17
NYU Community Brain Fair 2:00pm – 5:00pm • 550 First Ave., Farkas Auditorium Breezeway • Free – An all ages fair at NYU Langone Medical Center. Explore your brain from the senses to healthy aging, meet real scientists and learn more about research at NYULMC, and get information about clinical programs and cutting edge treatment options at NYU Langone Medical Center.
The Future of Minds, Brains and Machines 8:30pm • Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St • $8 – Gary Marcus talks about the future of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
wednesday, march 18
Understanding Autism 12:15pm – 1:30pm • Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, New Science Building, room A302 • Free – How well do we really understand autism? Professor Amanda Mentzer (Queens College) and Dr. James Hedges (NYU) will be discussing their research on on the disorder, and providing their own insights from the fields of psychology and neurosceince. Refreshments will be served.
Community Brain Expo: 2:00pm – 5:00pm • Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University, 40 Haven Ave • Free – Families, students, and teachers are invited to test, trick and learn about their brain at the third annual Community Brain Expo. The Brain Expo features demonstrations by scientists and activities for all ages.
thursday, march 19
Brain Awareness Fair 3:00 – 6:00pm • Guggenheim Pavilion at Mount Sinai Hospital, 1468 Madison Ave • Free – Hosted by the Sinai Neuroscience Outreach Program, activities and exhibits will include pipe cleaner neuron models, helmet safety, and a Brain Myths booth featuring some of the Mount Sinai’s most prominent neuroscientists. Last year’s event was an enormous success, with nearly 60 Mount Sinai volunteers and 300 participants, ranging in age from 3 to 82!
BioBase 3:00pm – 7:00pm• The Lower East Side Girls Club, 2101 Ave. D • Free – A series of interactive learning stations which will teach about all kinds of neuroscience topics including brain anatomy, how the brain produces electricity, how the brain senses, perceives, learns and remembers, and what types of things you can do to have a healthy brain. A hands-on approach to learning will be emphasized, as the stations will incorporate games and activities where you can play with science experiments. Several microscopes will be available to view images of the brain as well as learn about genetics and genetic engineering through the examples of fluorescent proteins. End the evening with an exciting sneak peak at NeuroDome in the LESGC planetarium!
RIBS OUT! 5:00pm- 8:00pm • Inter Space, 137 W 14th St. • Free – RIBS OUT! is an exhibition of new works on canvas created by Emma Stern while acting as a test subject for neuroscientist Tricia MacKenzie, PhD. Tricia MacKenzie’s lab focus is on understanding the neurological and genetic basis of creativity and influence. Come to open hours to see the beautiful work Emma Stern made and play with an Emotiv EEG device. This exhibition showcases works Emma made while her brain activity was being recorded using an EEG device (black device in photograph).
saturday, march 21
Brain Party 11:00am – 1:00pm • Discovery Times Square, 226 W. 44th St • $27 adults, $19.50 kids ages 3-11 (use code BRAINWEEK to save $5) – Dr. Sloka Iyengar, the director of education for Body Worlds Pulse, will host a Brain Party from 11am-1pm where kids will learn about brain science from a real neurologist, and even get to examine brain specimens.
sunday, march 22
ArtLab – Memory + Myth 6:30pm • Center for Performance Research, 361 Manhattan Ave., Williamsburg • $10 – How much can we trust our memories? On Sunday, March 22nd, ArtLab presents Memory + Myth: a theater-infused exploration of the neuroscience of memory. The evening features original work from The Deconstructive Theatre Project—a Brooklyn-based performing arts company mixing neuroscience with multimedia—with insights into the brain from the mind of Dr. Paula Croxson. ArtLab kicks off with an interactive experiment as Paula tests our powers of recall and introduces us to the neuroscience of how we remember. This crash course in recollection will be followed by an excerpt from the DTP’s The Orpheus Variations—a reimagining of the famous myth as a tale of the mutability of memory by blending live performance, neuroscience, and interactive technology. Rounding out the night, ArtLab will turn to the audience to delve deeper into the realm of remembrance through moderated discussion with Paula and DTP founder + director Adam J. Thompson.
Brains and Brews 7:00pm • Drom, 85 Ave. A • Free – NYU Professors Eric Klann and Joseph LeDoux, two world-renowned neuroscientists from NYU who will talk about how the brain remembers in a way everyone can understand. This event will feature live music, brain trivia with prizes and as the name suggests, cold brews.
PALNYC 