Welcome to the Official Web Site of the International Brain Awareness Week (BAW) Campaign.
Thank you to all Brain Awareness Week partners who made the 2009 campaign celebration a huge success. More than 400 BAW events in 30 countries are posted on the International Calendar of Events, and the campaign now includes more than 2,400 partner organizations and institutions in 76 countries.
The BAW Campaign Headquarters invites all partners to be a part of our new, online compilation of Partner Reports from around the world. The Partner Reports section is designed to recognize your efforts on behalf of the campaign and to celebrate your achievements in spreading the word about the importance of the brain and brain research. To submit a Partner Report, simply log in to the Partners Only section and go to My Report.
Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is an international campaign dedicated to advancing public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. Founded and coordinated by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and its sister organization, the European Dana Alliance for the Brain, BAW is now entering its fourteenth year as a catalyst for public understanding of brain science. The Dana Alliances are joined in the campaign by partners from around the world, including universities, hospitals, patient groups, government agencies, schools, service organizations, and professional associations.
Brain Awareness Week began in 1996 as a modest effort involving 160 organizations in the United States. BAW was created to bring together diverse groups from academia, government, professional, and advocacy groups and unite them with a common theme that brain research is the hope for treatments and preventions, and possibly cures, for brain diseases and disorders, and to ensure a better quality of life at all ages. In 1998, the campaign became international, first as a day and then as a week. Since that time, BAW has evolved into a powerful global initiative with more than 2,200 partners in 76 countries (as of the 2008 campaign).
During Brain Awareness Week, campaign partners, as diverse as they are, share one thing in common: the desire to convey the wonders of the brain and nervous system and the far-reaching influences and outcomes of neuroscience research to the public through exciting and innovative activities. These include open days at neuroscience laboratories; museum exhibitions about the brain; lectures on an array of brain-related topics; displays at malls, libraries, and community centers; classroom workshops; and many other activities and programs.
For more information about becoming a Brain Awareness Week partner, visit the Partner Registration page.
The Dana Alliance and European Dana Alliance have developed this Web site to provide BAW partners with a wide-range of resources and services to assist them in planning and implementing their BAW events. These include an International Calendar to promote their activities; free publications and stickers to distribute at events; and resources including event planning tips and suggestions, guidelines for working with the media, links to educational and science information, and BAW logos and other graphic materials. Follow the links below to take advantage of the many tools available to you as a partner in the BAW campaign.
Partner Registration
Read more about becoming a Brain Awareness Week partner, or register your organization as a partner in the campaign.
BAW Resources
The “how-to” information you’ll need to organize an event during Brain Awareness Week. This comprehensive section includes event ideas and planning tips, outreach tools, descriptions of free publications, links to education and science resources, and puzzles and graphics to download.
International Calendar of Events
Search for activities open to the public during Brain Awareness Week, and link to the Partners Only section to submit an event for posting on the calendar.
Partners Only
A password-protected section of the site for registered partners only. Post your event information on the International Calendar, order free publications and stickers, submit a report on the results and outcomes of your BAW efforts, and update your partner profile here.
Partner List
View a listing of campaign partners, by institution type and geographical location, with links to their Web sites. Search for BAW partners in your area with whom your organization might partner in presenting a BAW program.
Partner Reports
Read BAW activity reports from partners around the world. Get ideas and insights from seasoned BAW partners to assist and inspire you in planning your future BAW efforts.
Photo Gallery
Browse a gallery of photographs from past and present BAW campaigns.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Future Brain Awareness Week Dates:
March 15-21, 2010
March 14-20, 2011
March 12-18, 2012