On Saturday, March 15th, StratNeuro hosted the annual En Resa Genom Härnan event as part of Brain Awareness Week 2025.
This year's event was extra special as we introduced a family session in the morning, offering an interactive and engaging experience for all ages. During the morning session, children and families explored interactive brain stations, where they could look at neurons under the microscope, try controlling someone else's arm, and challenge their senses in hands-on workshops. The energy in the room was contagious, with curious minds of all ages asking questions, testing experiments, and discovering the wonders of neuroscience.
Our interactive stations included:
- The Backyard Brains station, where visitors could control a robot using their muscles-or even control someone else's arm!
- The neuron crafting station, where families could build their own model neurons and take them home.
- The neuron painting station, allowing participants to express their creativity while learning about brain cells.
- The equity in research and care station, highlighting a new initiative focused on improving healthcare for women with Parkinson's disease.
- The microscopy station, where participants could examine real brain slides under the microscope and gain a deeper understanding of neuroanatomy.
In addition to these stations, our volunteers designed engaging workshops specifically for kids and families. Participants of all ages could test their olfactory senses through smell-based challenges, learn how to exercise their brain through interactive activities, and gain insights into brain function through hands-on demonstrations. These workshops provided a fun and educational way to explore neuroscience while making learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
The afternoon session featured a series of engaging lectures by leading neuroscience experts:
- Anna Matton discussed Alzheimer's disease, shedding light on the latest research.
- Sara Garcia-Ptacek explored the science behind aging and brain health.
- Pawel Herman provided insights into the role of AI in neuroscience and its future applications.
The overwhelming participation of more than 300 people in the afternoon session, both in person and online, highlights the huge public interest in events like this. Big thank you to everyone that invested their Saturday to come and learn a bit about the brain and brain research!
Special thanks to our host, Jens Hjerling-Leffler, moderator, Amina Manzoor, for guiding us through an inspiring and thought-provoking event.
A huge thank you to all the organizers who made this day possible: Marina Slashcheva, Asimenia Gkogka, Abishek Arora, Liesbeth Voorbraeck, Birte Schmid, Anna Canal Garcia, Ljerka Delac, Joana Catarino and Laura Sardon Puig. And a big thankyou as well to all the extra volunteers of the day - we would not have made it without you! Cristiana Silva, Thomas Contesse, Magdalena Krubner, Chiara Forastieri, Robin Schürz, Anil Rodríguez, Subash Chandra Malik, Alexandra Jänis, Celia Aguilar Ruiz, Elpida Kallou, Ioanna Markaki, Evita Papathoma, Theodora Ntetsika, Theodora Soumala, Ana Oliviera, Vidur Sabharwal and Pierre Fontanel.
For those who couldn't attend, now you have the chance to watch the afternoon session!
