March 10-16 this year is Brain Awareness Week! Brain Awareness Week is an international program organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives to advance public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has long been an important partner in making Brain Awareness Week successful, and is a strong advocate for volunteerism. The SfN is engaged in several outreach activities, including the Neuroscientist-Teacher Partner Program, which is a type of matchmaking service connecting neuroscientists with science teachers around the country to arrange outreach relationships. You can sign up for these programs today.

Brain Awareness activities and the Neuroscientist-Teacher Partner Program.
Brain Awareness Week information and events (Dana Alliance).

Brain Awareness Week is an excellent venue for getting involved in public education, but there are also many ways to get involved throughout the year. There are many successful scientific outreach programs around the country that can serve as model local programs, a few of which are described below. During the summer, Georgia State University runs a "Brain Camp" for middle school students and an Institute on Neuroscience (ION) which allows high school students to gain experience working in a lab. At the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, community outreach takes on many forms: Faculty, students, and staff participate in a summer workshop for middle school teachers, disseminate neuroscience facts at the state fair, and visit K-12 classes and elderly hostels to teach neuroscience principles. Other possible activities might include giving research presentations to the public (in person, or via public access television or radio), or partnering with museums or science centers to develop science exhibits.