Creative Brain Week Goes Global with Satellite Events

Now in its third year, Creative Brain Week—an interdisciplinary exploration of how brain science and creativity collide to benefit health, well-being, and social development—has gone global. Hosted by the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at Trinity College Dublin and with continued support from the Atlantic Institute, satellite events launched around the world for the first time in 2024.

^{Creative Brain Week satellite organizers and brain health ambassadors gather in Gaborone, Botswana in May 2024.}

Led by Atlantic Fellows in Egypt, India, Botswana, and Australia—leaders in their fields and changemakers for equity—the events brought together researchers, neuroscientists, artists, musicians, universities, and cultural organizations, among others. Their goal is to increase understanding and promote health equity by celebrating diverse cultural and creative perspectives on brain health.

Each event was thematically connected and locally informed, encouraging the exchange of knowledge across disciplines, cultures and lived experiences, while adding new dimensions to Creative Brain Week’s successful formula. 

The satellites kicked off in March in Cairo, Egypt, when Atlantic Fellows neuroscientist Mohamed Salama and neurologist Shaimaa El-Jaafary led an expansive program at the American University in Cairo, exploring brain health, the creative arts, and policy. 

“The number of registered attendees and those who registered onsite exceeded 500. Most of them were surprised that neuroscience can involve different disciplines and that the arts can play a role,” said Salama, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health. “I believe that Creative Brain Week can continue to serve as a pot that gathers all the active players and connects and inspires them to innovate and work together.”

^{Creative Brain Week satellite organizers and participants in Cairo, Egypt and New Delhi, India. Photo credit India: Priyanka Dev}

In May, in New Delhi, the second satellite event was led by Atlantic Fellows clinical psychologist and social entrepreneur Jayashree Dasgupta and neuroscientist Anusha Yasoda-Mohan. Supported by Delhi-based mental health and dementia care organization, Samvedna Care, they focused on developing a collaborative brain health strategy across their country, by holding workshops that brought together researchers, clinicians, community champions, entrepreneurs, and artists. 

Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Dasgupta, said, “A significant achievement of the workshop was the transformation of individual participants into a cohesive network with a collective vision for brain health in India. This event was not just a one-time gathering but the start of a series of ongoing conversations and actions that will continue to unfold as the network grows. I am thrilled by the collaborative spirit and shared dedication of everyone involved.”

Also in May, in Gaborone, Botswana, Atlantic Fellows neuropsychologist Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza and public health epidemiology professor Ganzamungu Zihindula (Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in South Africa) led a satellite event developed with the University of Botswana’s Department of Psychology. It aimed to raise awareness and champion brain health advocacy, engaging wider communities, particularly young people and those in rural areas. 

“This initiative began with a simple yet profound question: ‘What does brain health mean in Botswana?’” said Mbakile-Mahlanza, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health. “Through a collaborative, community-driven approach, we developed a program that engaged rural populations, students, and young people through walks, storytelling, village conversations, school visits, and more. It was an incredible learning journey for all of us, which instilled a collective responsibility for cognitive well-being and highlighted the power of grassroots efforts to drive meaningful change.”

^{Technology meets performance at Creative Brain Week Australia in June 2024.}

In June, Creative Brain Week Australia was led by Atlantic Fellows economist Kim-Huong Nguyen and marketing coach and media trainer Juanita Wheeler (Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity). Focused on showcasing local brain health initiatives, the event spanned venues ranging from modern art to neuroscience research, including the Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. The program emphasized the role of brain science and creativity in shaping future approaches to health, the arts, and innovation, showcasing how local collaborations can enhance the effectiveness of campaigns to advance brain health equity globally.

Finally, in October, Creative Brain Week Singapore took center stage, presented by LASALLE College of the Arts in partnership with GBHI at Trinity. Interactive discussions and immersive workshops, held online and at LASALLE’s creativity-led research and learning spaces in the heart of Singapore, brought together neuroscience and artistic knowledge to explore brain health and health equity in the context of Southeast Asia. Building on the success of earlier satellite events, the program also highlighted insights from Creative Brain Week project leads in Australia and India, promoting knowledge-sharing to strengthen the global brain health and arts community.

“Over the past three years, Creative Brain Week has rapidly evolved into a global network, inspiring conversations, ideas, and projects through the Atlantic Fellows community,” said Dominic Campbell, co-producer of Creative Brain Week, co-founder of Creative Aging International and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health. “In 2024, the event in Dublin sparked satellite projects around the world for the first time, creating safe, brave spaces that nurture collaboration across divides of discipline, location, and history. We look forward to carrying this energy and momentum forward with Creative Brain Week Argentina in February 2025.”

“The launch of Creative Brain Week satellite events in Africa, Asia, and Australia marks an important step in fostering international collaboration and innovative approaches to brain health,” said Brian Lawlor, Site Director of GBHI at Trinity. “By breaking down professional silos, these events bring together creatives, artists, and scientists while also engaging the public to explore how creativity can inspire new strategies for preventing or delaying dementia, as well as improving, restoring, and maintaining brain health for all.”

A blog on the Egypt, India, Botswana, and Australia satellites was originally published on the Atlantic Fellows website hosted by the Atlantic Institute. This version has been adapted for the GBHI website, with updates reflecting the expanded event series. Based at Rhodes House, Oxford, U.K. the Institute serves as a convening and knowledge-sharing hub for the global network of fellows. See the original article.