The University of Lethbridge's annual Brain Awareness Week will take place March 23 to 28 and include a number of activities. The community is invited to celebrate ULethbridge researchers, students, community partners and the significant advances in brain research that have increased our understanding of the brain and raised awareness and support for ongoing research.
“Brain Awareness Week is an opportunity to highlight the research advances and contributions of our ULethbridge researchers, students and community partners toward ongoing study of the brain,” says Dr. Robbin Gibb, Chair/Professor for the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN). “These events bring our community together to explore the latest discoveries in neuroscience and see how they shape our understanding of the brain.”
On Tuesday, March 24, in the University's BMO Auditorium (Science Commons), Dr. Claudia Gonzalez will provide a talk, From Action to Cognition: How the Body Shapes the Brain. The presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. and explore how everyday behaviours, from grasping a cup to reaching for something in the dark, reveal the deep links between action and cognition.
On Friday, March 27 at the Galt Museum, Dr. Gerlinde Metz will present, The Stressed Brain: Lessons from Earth and Space. This event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and examine how experiences such as stress and social isolation can shape how our brains function and influence both mental and physical health.
The week concludes with the always popular CCBN Open House event on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Science Commons. Take a tour of the Department of Neuroscience and learn what the labs are researching, interact with a variety of community organizations that support brain and mental health, and explore the kids’ room for fun, engaging, brain-building activities. Free parking for the event is available in Lot S or K.
“During the open house, there will be tours of the department where the community can ask questions about the different research in the labs, a community booth fair to learn more about great local organizations that support brain and mental health, as well as a kids' room with fun brain-themed activities for the family,” says Jade Oldfield (BEd '18, MSc '25), a neuroscience graduate student and organizer of Brain Awareness Week. “This year brings a lot of great people and organizations together, and we're looking forward to engaging with the community!”