National Science Week 2004

The brainiacs at the University of New South Wales came up with a distinctly cerebral approach to mark August’s National Science Week celebrations. On Wednesday August 18 2004, the University's Museum of Human Disease kicked off a trifecta of events with a Brains for Breakfast activity. Experts in anatomy, pathology and medicine instructed twenty local Year 7 students as they donned surgical gowns, gloves and masks to 'operate' on edible brain-shaped jellies. Each jelly represented a different disorder, with simulated pathologies which were diagnosed with the help of the experts. Minister Frank Sartor participated and officially launched the special Science Week activities.

The Museum of Human Disease's latest public exhibition Getting on My Nerves was also launched. This exhibition highlights neurological disorders such as brain injuries, meningitis, bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis as well as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntingdon's diseases. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Mark Wainwright attended the Breakfast and official launch of the exhibition in the evening. Deputy Mayor, Councillor Bruce Notley-Smith officially launched the exhibition which will be on display for 12 months.

Over 100 community and high school visitors were then enticed back onto campus in the evening by the Pick My Brain forum on the latest advances in neuroscience. The panel, which included Professor Phil Waite, Professor Phil Mitchell, Professor Henry Brodarty and Associate Professor Marcus Stoodley, took questions from the audience on the latest findings in the areas of dementia, brain trauma, bipolar disorder and depression, neurosurgery, nerve damage and regeneration. Panel Chair and Head of the School of Medical Sciences, Professor Denis Wakefield, said "The panel answered questions from the audience on a range of topics from Parkinson's, to the ethics of stem cell research, to the effects of brain tumours, to what causes ADHD and whether the radiation from mobile phones causes brain tumours."

"We wanted to increase people’s awareness of neurological diseases and for them to become more familiar with the terminology that’s used to describe common diseases. We also wanted to enthuse the youth of our community to get involved in research and medical activities," he said.

Professor Wakefield said the events were an effective way of engaging the community. "It's important that the university is seen as part of the community that it serves; that it is not just an educational institute but also involved in research that impacts on our society."

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