Brain Games returns for another year
4 Mawrth 2015
Cardiff is hosting a free one-day event to educate members of the public about how the brain works and to raise awareness of its neuroscience research.
Coinciding with worldwide Brain Awareness Week, 'Brain Games' is returning for a third year and will be held on 8 March in the National Museum Wales from 11am-4pm.
Brain Games is aimed primarily at children aged between 7-11 and their families. From young to old, the event offers something for everyone, explains organiser Professor Derek Jones from the University's School of Psychology:
"The event is completely free and we encourage people to just come and go as they please. Last year over 1,000 visitors had a lot of fun; the adults enjoyed the games as much as the kids.
"There are 16 interactive 'Brain Games' which teach you about how the brain works and about the research we are doing at Cardiff University.
"Favourites coming back this year include 'Ghost Hand' in which we make you believe a rubber hand is actually yours, 'Brain Wars' where you use your brain power to make a ball float in the air, and 'The Incredible Shrinking Chair' where you can shrink your Mum or Dad down to the size of a baby and take a photo standing next to them - no trick photography.
"We have four brand new games this year, including 'Taste Twister' (testing your taste buds), 'Magic Melody' (is what you are hearing really there?), and 'Now You See It, Now You Don't' (testing your powers of observation). We also have a real racing car for kids to drive, but with a difference - how will they do with 'Topsy Gear'?
"In addition to the games, there are a series of interactive talks throughout the day. Professor John Aggleton will tell us what the brains of dinosaurs were really like. Professor Liam Gray will be teaching us how to operate on 'brains' in 'DIY Brain Surgery' and Professor David Oakley will be showing us how he can control your movements with hypnosis in the all new 'Hypno Motor Show'."
'Brain Games' is run by over 80 volunteers from across the University's neuroscience community. The event also receives support from the Wellcome Trust, The Physiological Society, and The Learned Society of Wales.
In addition to the Brain Games themselves, the University is running a series of assemblies in primary schools aimed at explaining the mechanics of the brain, as well as an art competition where the shortlisted entries will be displayed in the National Museum. The winner of the competition will be awarded a prize.
The University has a long history of supporting community engagement. It currently has five flagship engagement projects working with communities on issues such as tackling poverty, boosting the economy, and improving health, education and wellbeing.
Launched by the First Minister in 2014, they are the most ambitious plans for community engagement to date, and one of the most forward-thinking of their kind ever attempted by a UK university.