 | |
| Picture credit: Society for Neuroscience |
The study of the brain is a curious matter, for it requires one to use the subject to study itself.
This March, UNAM Los Angeles, UCLA and the Mexican Consulate
in Los Angeles will be hosting a series of activities and lectures about the brain
as part of the International Brain Awareness Week (BAW). The event will take
place at the consulate from March 17th to the 22nd making
this the first bilingual edition of BAW. This event is for the general public
however it is particularly interested in promoting the neurosciences to the
youth and hopefully stimulating interest in future study thereof.
Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign aimed at
increasing public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. In
2015 it will celebrate 20 years of worldwide campaigning. Partner organizations
across the globe host creative and innovative activities in their communities
to educate kids and adults about the brain and the importance of studying
neuroscience and related fields. Last year, in 2014, there were more than 860
events held in 55 countries.
As part of its program it will feature prominent scientists
from UCLA and UNAM speaking on topics having to do with brain functions and
disorders/diseases. In addition, it will have interactive exhibitions for the public
to get a bit more of a hands-on approach. There will also be video and audio
exhibitions for the public to gain a more sensorial appreciation of the subject
matter.
This is a very good opportunity for the Hispanic community
in Los Angeles to familiarize itself with a growing field. The brain is
considered to be one of the last frontiers in science and it is a subject we
both know a lot and very little of, at the same time. The next decade will
definitely bring huge leaps in the understanding of it and hopefully, some of
the contributors to this knowledge will come from these young, talented
individuals in the ever growing Latin population.
