11th Annual Public Forum | Registration Form (Fax) [ pdf ] | Map/Driving Directions
See Also: Brain Night 2006

The Neuroscience Research Center hosts its annual Public Forum in conjunction with Brain Awareness Week. The subject of the 2005 Public Forum was The Aging Brain; the subject of the upcoming 2006 Public Forum will be Memory. Following is a description of the 2005 Forum.

The forum consisted of four panelists who are members of the UT faculty and related facilities, each experts in various aspects of how the brain functions in older human beings, from normal aging processes of the brain to diseases and disorders associated with the aging brain. Renowned surgeon and UT faculty member Dr. James "Red" Duke moderated the forum that drew an audience of over 400 guests. Following their presentations, the panelists answered questions from the audience.

A reception following the Public Forum event allowed participants the opportunity to interact with the four guest speakers. Literature on the aging brain and information concerning treatment facilities at UT-Houston were made available to participants during the reception. Local public advocacy groups were invited to distribute information regarding their services. Several departments of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 's Medical School performed demonstrations and presented displays on brain function and health.

Partners In Education (For Children)

The NRC has developed and maintains a Partners in Education (PIE) program in the neurosciences in Houston . During Brain Awareness Week, the NRC hosts a PIE event, called Brain Night at a local museum for young children and their families.

The March evening event at the John P. Mc Govern Museum of Health and Medical Science involves the coordination of various 'partners', including the Museum, Houston Independent School District, University Care Plus, and an enthusiastic volunteer base of NRC members, postdoctoral fellows, residents and students from the UT-Houston Medical School. The event is packed with activities, from mini-lectures for children to brain-related demonstrations. Face painting and free gifts and balloons add another dimension of fun to the evening of science.

This project is part of the International Brain Awareness Week Partners in Education program, a unique partnership of major institutions organized to advance public understanding about the brain and brain research by linking scientists directly with students. The partnership, which works with universities and academic research centers throughout North America and Europe , includes the Association of University Professors of Neurology, the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, the European Dana Alliance for the Brain, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Society for Neuroscience. It is funded by a grant from the Charles A. Dana Foundation.