Each year, the UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI) hosts Brain Awareness Week (BAW), a global celebration of neuroscience that introduces students to the wonders of the brain and the discoveries that are transforming our understanding of brain health, behavior, and disease.
At UCLA, BAW brings together faculty, researchers, trainees, and volunteers from across campus to welcome hundreds of K–12 students from schools across the Los Angeles Unified School District for an immersive introduction to neuroscience. Through hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes lab experiences, students gain a unique glimpse into how scientists study the brain and develop new approaches to understanding neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Each day, visiting students arrive at the Gonda (Goldschmied) Neuroscience and Genetics Research Center, where the program begins with an engaging introduction to the structure and function of the brain. Students then participate in a series of hands-on neuroscience activities led by the BAW outreach team, designed to make complex brain concepts accessible and exciting for learners of all ages. These activities explore topics such as sensation and perception, brain organization, neural communication, motor control, and brain plasticity.
Students also tour UCLA neuroscience research laboratories, where faculty members, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars share their work and demonstrate how discoveries in neuroscience are advancing our understanding of conditions such as autism, Parkinson’s disease, memory disorders, and brain injury, as well as emerging technologies in neuroengineering and brain–computer interfaces.
For many students, Brain Awareness Week provides their first opportunity to visit a major research university and interact with scientists, offering a powerful glimpse into the possibilities of a future in science, medicine, or technology. The program aims to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of neuroscientists and innovators.
Brain Awareness Week 2026
Our 2026 Brain Awareness Week activities will take place during the week of March 16–20, 2026.
Volunteer Opportunities
Brain Awareness Week relies on the enthusiasm and dedication of the UCLA neuroscience community. If you are a UCLA student, postdoctoral scholar, staff member, or faculty member interested in volunteering, we would love to have you involved in helping inspire the next generation of scientists.
Please reach out to the program team at: ucla.baw@gmail.com.
School Participation
If you represent a school and would like to request a field trip visit for Brain Awareness Week, please contact the program coordinator at: ucla.baw@gmail.com.
Videos of past Brain Awareness Week events created by Dr. Vidya Saravanapandian are available below.
More Brain Awareness Week resources can be found here: https://mdcune.psych.ucla.edu/baw