Brain Awareness Month Recap: From the Brain Bee to the Library

Throughout my academic journey, I've been captivated by the power of science communication and outreach. What used to be an afterthought for many in the scientific community has now evolved into a crucial bridge for sharing knowledge far and wide.

As a neuroscientist studying childhood brain development, one of the most rewarding aspects of my work is the opportunity to teach and share information about research, and to hear from those who are interested in it. These rich exchanges help to make research better and can encourage research to be shared and used outside of the laboratory.

Brain Awareness Month

Every child's journey through life is intricately linked to the development of their brain, shaping their cognition, emotions, and overall health. Every March, we celebrate Brain Awareness Month, which is a dedicated month to shine a spotlight on brain health, with an emphasis on education, research, and advocacy. Brain Awareness Month is an excellent opportunity for organizations such as ENRRICH (Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research in Child Health) and the Manitoba Neuroscience Network to collaboratively encourage public discussions and initiatives focused on translating the knowledge researchers in Manitoba have gained through brain-related programs of research. The goal of these discussions is to directly connect with people and their families with lived experience and the general public, and hopefully to also excite future researchers to pursue a career in science. Below I will highlight two events that were held during Brain Awareness Month in 2024.

Winnipeg Brain Bee

One of these events organized for the Brain Awareness Month is the Winnipeg Brain Bee. It is an exciting event for high school students (Grades 9-12) to learn firsthand about neuroscience. With a format akin to a spelling bee, this competition tests students' comprehension of neuroscience concepts and is part of a larger international initiative. Our local champions have consistently excelled on the national stage, securing victory in 2 out of the last 3 years, a feat that deserves applause and recognition in our community.

Last year's Brain Bee champion was Mark Piasecki from Vincent Massey Collegiate. This accomplishment earned him a spot on Ace Burpee's Top 100 Most Fascinating Manitobans of 2023. Mark's continued involvement in this year's event added an exciting element, where he played a prominent role in showcasing the remarkable talent and achievements of this year’s participants. He also was invited to attend the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies meeting in Vienna, Austria this summer, which is the largest neuroscience conference in Europe. You can hear more about Mark’s experiences with the Winnipeg Brain Bee here on CTV Morning Live. This year, another student from Vincent Massey Collegiate, Lisa Wei, took top spot at the Winnipeg Brain Bee and is among the top three Canadian finalists who will be competing in the National Brain Bee in Vancouver at the 17th Canadian Neuroscience Meeting.

Organized by the Manitoba Neuroscience Network, the Winnipeg Brain Bee isn’t just a competition; it’s an immersive learning experience with interactive workshops led by experts in the field. From exploring Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience with Dr. Ji Hyun Ko to studying real human brains in Brain Anatomy sessions with Dr. Sari Hannila, students gain invaluable insights into various facets of neuroscience. These workshops not only impart knowledge but also create networking opportunities for students and teachers, fostering connections that could influence future career paths.

An evening at the public library

Following the fun of the Winnipeg Brain Bee, a series of science talks were arranged at various local eateries and libraries around Winnipeg. ENRRICH and the Manitoba Neurosciences Network sponsored one of these events and had a wonderful response from researchers and trainees who were interested in showcasing their research. Hosted by Dr. Paul Marcogliese, the evening featured research presented by Dr. Florencia Ricci and Dr. Ana Hanlon-Dearman, providing a comprehensive overview of their current clinical research projects in the field of Autism. Nicole Tongol, Kyla Wiens, and Dr. Kadisha Bzura discussed the preliminary findings from an intervention developed to support the mental well-being of parents. And Dr. Minoo Dibiri Golchin provided a fun and informative end to the presentations by highlighting her research about the importance of play.

Though just a glimpse of the current research being conducted by ENRRICH members, this event was a wonderful opportunity to hear updates from researchers and insightful feedback from attendees. Discussion continued long after the chairs were stacked, and new connections were made. This event was an excellent reminder of the importance of working alongside families in current and future research.

Impact on Child Health

Working to bridge the gap between research and the broader community is not just about researchers’ sharing their knowledge; it’s about exciting the next generation to actively shape the future of science. Importantly, it’s also about listening to those with lived experience who choose to share their expertise. Brain Awareness Month and its’ associated events such as the Winnipeg Brain Bee and public library sessions serve as vibrant platforms where science becomes accessible and available for public feedback and lively discussion. Ultimately, research becomes more representative and applicable when lived experiences and expertise is shared back, to ensure that research is informed by and responsive to the needs and preferences of children and families.

A note from ENRRICH:

Do you have any ideas for next year’s Brain Awareness Month activities? We would love to hear them! Send an email to enrrich@chrim.ca. Thanks for following ENRRICH-Ed!

1.            Beattie, R., Hippenmeyer, S., and Pauler, F.M. (2020). SCOPES: Sparking Curiosity Through Open-Source Platforms in Education and Science. Frontiers in Education 5. 10.3389/feduc.2020.00048.

About the Author

Originally from Winnipeg, Dr. Robert Beattie completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Manitoba in microbiology. After an internship at the National Microbiology Labs, he went to Europe to complete his graduate studies. His PhD work was primarily done in Basel, Switzerland, with a brief period in Sheffield, England and Freiburg, Germany, before moving to Vienna, Austria as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria. He contributed to advancing a genetic technology for studying health and disease at single-cell resolution called Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM). Returning to Winnipeg, he plans to apply these novel tools to study childhood developmental disorders, including Autism spectrum disorder. He is specifically interested in understanding how individual cell types functionally contribute to these disorders and the molecular pathways involved..