II Semana Nacional do Cérebro (SNC/2013): popularizando as neurociências

Abstract

The Second Brazilian Brain Awareness Week (NBAW/2013) is summarized. In synchrony with Dana Alliance and promoted by the Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC), in partnership with the Rio Society for Neuroscience Chapter (Rio SfN Chapter), NBAW/2013 comprised 129 initiatives, far surpassing the 44 of the previous year. Actions concentrated in the South, Northeast and Southeast regions, but occurred with excellent results in the North and Midwest of the country. Although the inclusion of five new capitals in NBAW/2013 contributed to the increase in the percentage of actions concentrated in the capitals compared to NBAW/2012, in absolute terms, we verified a significant increase in total activities of the inner cities. Universities were main organizing institutions. Public was mostly non-academic, which attests NBAW efficiency in popularizing the neuroscientific knowledge. The success of the NBAW highlights the interest of neuroscientists in translating their academic themes into an accessible and friendly language, sharing latest advances of this field of knowledge with the society in general. The existence of pioneer niches (people and Institutions), their permanent contribution, as well as the adhesion of new niches, are pivotal to consolidate NBAW as an event of national solidarity.