Brain Awareness Week 2027 Grants Launch

Brain Awareness Week grant applications open September 15—here is how you can turn your idea into a funded event!

Brain Awareness Week is a global grass roots campaign that aims to foster enthusiasm for brain science, encourage dialogue between researchers and the public, and increase awareness of the importance of brain health. Scientists, educators, students, advocates, and brain-science enthusiasts all over the world organize outreach events to share the wonders of the brain with their local communities.

To support these creative and educational initiatives, the Dana Foundation partners with the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and the Federation for European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) each year to provide funding. IBRO awards grants of up to $1,250 to organizers in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the US and Canada. FENS awards grants of up to 1,000 euros to organizers in Europe. Both IBRO and FENS are accepting applications from September 15 – October 15, 2026. These grants bring brain science into more communities, particularly to regions that lack the resources and support typically needed to organize outreach and awareness initiatives.

Interdisciplinary projects combining neuroscience with other fields such as the arts, law and policy, technology, psychology, and beyond are encouraged. An interdisciplinary angle often makes for engaging and successful events that nonscientists can connect with. For example, in 2026 at the University of Pavia in Italy, music and neuroscience harmonized in a public outreach event, which included short presentations and student musical performances exploring how music shapes the brain. At the Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging & Data Science in the United States, over 600 people learned about the connection between emotions and the brain through a series of hands-on activities like decoding facial expressions, while undergraduate and graduate student-volunteers gained real-world experience talking about science with members of the public.

Why Organize a Brain Awareness Week event?

With support from the Dana Foundation, IBRO and FENS commissioned an impact survey of Brain Awareness Week, which was released earlier this year. Past organizers reported high levels of professional growth from their experience participating in the campaign. Survey respondents highlighted that Brain Awareness Week strengthened their communication skills, expanded their professional networks, and helped them with career development. A 2025 Brain Fair held at the University of Notre Dame featured interactive demonstrations that gave over 50 neuroscience students the opportunity to practice their science communication skills with almost 250 community members. Past organizers also reported that their experiences inspired new research ideas and helped them secure future funding for other projects. Overall, 99% said they would participate in Brain Awareness Week again.

Want to plan a Brain Awareness Week event, but don’t know where to start?

Past Brain Awareness Week events have included educational workshops, advocacy and social media campaigns, lab tours, art and comedy shows, brain fairs, poster sessions, film screenings, and public discussions. A number of organizations provide tips and free resources you can adapt to your needs. FENS and IBRO have plenty of resources to help you brainstorm event ideas and plan your outreach initiative. The Dana Foundation also has a dedicated Brain Awareness Week page with planning tips and free outreach tools. LabXchange has collected close to 2,000 neuroscience resources in various forms—written, video, interactive, and even quizzes. BrainFacts.org is a great resource on all things neuroscience and offers a curated list of resources relating to neuroscience in society.

Brain Awareness Week will take place March 15-21, 2027. Follow Brain Awareness Week on Instagram and Facebook for educational content and grant-related updates.

Apply for a Brain Awareness Week grant: IBRO, FENS