U of S-Led Brain Awareness Week 2006 Runs March 13-19
Posted March 09, 2006
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 9th, 2006 2006-03-08-ME
U of S-Led Brain Awareness Week 2006 Runs March 13-19
Have you ever wondered how cell phone use affects your brain? Did you know
that regular physical activity may generate the growth of new brain cells?
Brainstorm these and other fascinating facts when the Saskatchewan
Neuroscience Network hosts Brain Awareness Week (BAW) 2006 from March 13th
to 19th. The theme of BAW 2006 is "Nutrition and the Nervous System."
To kick off the week, a free public lecture is set for Sunday, March 12th.
Bernard Juurlink, the 2006 Jarislowsky Chair in Biotechnology, will speak on
"How what you eat may influence your aging brain" from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at
the Radisson Hotel. Following the lecture the BAW banquet will be held from
6-8pm. Tickets are still available by calling Shirley at 966-4109.
A free seminar series runs all week from Monday, March 13th to Thursday,
March 17th. Lectures on various topics take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
each night at the Albert Community Center (610 Clarence Ave. S).
The topics will include "Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Cognition", "Effects
of Diet and Nutrition on Emotional States", and "Exercise and the Brain".
A complete list of lectures is available on the BAW homepage at
www.usask.ca/snn/baw06.html
The popular Brain Blast (formerly Brain Show) takes place Saturday, March
18th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Evan Hardy Collegiate (607 Acadia Dr.). This
is the first time BAW organizers have teamed with a local high school to
help improve awareness.
"This year we are particularly excited about our new collaboration with the
public school board and Evan Hardy Collegiate," says BAW chair Sarah Rigley
MacDonald. "Our organizers on both sides are very enthusiastic about
providing activities through which the high school students can interact
with U of S students and faculty."
This free, public event includes interactive booths from over 20 community
based organizations, a model MRI, a dizziness clinic and interactive
presentations by the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, the Alzheimer's
Society of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatoon Wheelchair Sport Association.
There will also be a nutrition-themed seminar series with topics such as
"Fuel for the brain" and "Complementary and alternative therapies for
diseases of the nervous system."
For children, there will be a Brain Walk, a 10-station hands-on activity
center focused on teaching children about the various aspects of brain
function and health. Children who attend the 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Brain Blast
will also have the opportunity to be one of the judges for Kid's Judge, a
reverse science fair where those aged six to 12 judge brain science projects
presented by Evan Hardy high school students.
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Note to Editors: Interviews can be arranged with U of S neuroscientists,
seminar series speakers, and members of the BAW organizing committee upon
request.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Rigley MacDonald
Chair, Organizing Committee
Brain Awareness Week
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
College of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 241-5192
David Hutton
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6490
