A group of volunteers with ‘Neurobot’ and At-Bristol staff during BAW 2013
At-Bristol
Press release issued:
14 March 2013
Over fifty neuroscientists from Bristol Neuroscience, comprising researchers from the Universities of Bristol, the West of England and local NHS Hospitals, are taking part in hands-on demonstrations and brain-related activities as part of ‘Brilliant Brain Week’. The event, which runs until Monday 18 March, is part of a world-wide campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research.
Over fifty neuroscientists from
Bristol Neuroscience, comprising researchers from the Universities of Bristol, the West of England and local NHS Hospitals, are taking part in hands-on demonstrations and brain-related activities as part of ‘
Brilliant Brain Week’. The event, which runs until Monday 18 March, is part of a
world-wide campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research.
This year’s event, run in partnership with At-Bristol, provides an opportunity for members of the public to meet neuroscientists and ask ‘anything and everything about the brain’. One of the highlights of this year’s exhibits includes a ‘Neurobot’ — an interactive manikin, funded by Research Councils UK, designed to show how the brain processes and responds to different types of information.
Professor Richard Apps, Director of Bristol Neuroscience based in the University of Bristol’s School of Physiology and Pharmacology said: “This is an important but above all fun event which gives us, as scientists, a great opportunity to take our passion for brain research out of the laboratory and into the community.”
Alice Barber from At-Bristol added: “We have benefited from being supported by volunteers from Bristol Neuroscience during Brain Awareness Week for several years now, and this partnership continues to grow year after year. By having researchers with expertise and practical experience in neuroscience for them to talk to really make ‘Brilliant Brain Week’ feel special to our visitors. Perhaps some brain researchers of the future will be inspired by talking to a volunteer from the University of Bristol this week.”
The event is run annually in Bristol and is supported by Bristol Neuroscience, which represents one of the largest communities of neuroscientists in the UK. All the events marking Brain Awareness Week in Bristol 2013 are only able to take place thanks to At-Bristol and Bristol Neuroscience with support from the University of Bristol's Centre for Public Engagement and Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research.
Further information
About Bristol Neuroscience (BN) Bristol Neuroscience was founded by the University of Bristol in 2003 to ensure that all neuroscientists in Bristol could benefit from the cross-disciplinary expertise and facilities at the University and its partner hospitals. It aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue and research, identify and support new research opportunities, enable the large local neuroscience community to make strategic plans for the future, engage the wider community in neuroscience research and medicine and represent local neuroscience to external bodies, such as industry, funders, and other universities. More information is available on the Bristol Neuroscience website at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/neuroscience/about/
