Everyone is invited to learn more about the world-renowned brain research being done at the University of Lethbridge’s Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) during Brain Awareness Week, March 9 to 14.

Dr. Robbin Gibb, a U of L professor of neuroscience, will present this year’s public talk, addressing the importance of brain development in the preschool years. Gibb will discuss research into training the preschool brain for success in school and beyond through simple play activities. This free lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at the Yates Memorial Centre.

Dr. Robbin Gibb will discuss brain development in the early years during her public talk.

On Saturday, March 14, the CCBN will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors are invited to step inside to find out more about the cutting edge research being done and the discoveries being made in southern Alberta. The open house includes tours of the labs, the chance to meet CCBN scientists and an activity room for children to engage in educational brain-related activities.

“We encourage people of all ages to participate in this year’s Brain Awareness Week,” says Dr. Artur Luczak, a professor and neuroscience researcher at the CCBN and one of the organizers of Brain Awareness Week. “Research being done here in Lethbridge covers a wide range of neuroscience topics, including memory, stroke, brain diseases, how the brain has evolved in different species, and brain development over the lifespan.”

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) activities are organized by the Lethbridge Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. BAW is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research.

Coinciding with BAW is a public talk on the evening of Wednesday, March 11 by Jay Ingram, former host of CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks and Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet, titled The Alzheimer’s Mystery. Beginning at 7 p.m. at The Galt Museum, Ingram will talk about the research being done in Alberta to understand Alzheimer’s disease. The CCBN’s Dr. Rob Sutherland is an invited guest and will be available for the public discussion.