BioBus

This grant continues support for BioBus’ large scale public event, Brains on Tech, exploring the intersections of neuroscience with topics including artificial intelligence, technology, social media, and mental health on 125th Street in Harlem during Brain Awareness Week 2025. The event engages community members in discussions and interactive exhibits to explore the value and risks of technology, AI and social media for researchers, individuals, and society at large. 

Dana Foundation support has made BioBus a staple of New York City’s annual Brain Awareness Week celebration, allowing their staff scientists and volunteers from local universities to bring neuroscience out of the lab and into the community. BioBus’ high-tech mobile and community laboratories provide students and the community at large with intimate access to scientists and research experiences in low-pressure, high-engagement settings. BioBus partners with the Greater NYC Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (braiNY) each year, recruiting scientists from Columbia University, New York University, City College, and Regeneron, among others, to participate as volunteers. 

This event provides a unique opportunity for Harlem community members to engage in hands-on demonstrations that show how scientists use AI to parse through large data sets, predict behavior, and recognize faces. Discussions address the ethical implications of AI ranging from energy and resource usage to data security in social media. These interactive activities aim to spark engaging conversations about the benefits and risks of technology and AI, inspiring critical reflection on their roles in advancing research, shaping individual lives, and influencing society. 

This grant supports the Dana Education objective to empower people of all ages to use neuroscience in their everyday lives by strengthening their knowledge of the field’s real-world applications and ethical considerations through sustained informal education programs.