Brain Awareness Week is an international initiative involving various organizations worldwide. Every year, numerous events take place in the third week of March to raise awareness among the general public and professionals about the benefits of researching and understanding the nervous system for individuals and society. In Slovenia, the initiative is organized under the auspices of the SiNAPSA Society, the Slovenian Society for Neuroscience. Events are held in Ljubljana and other Slovenian cities such as Maribor, Koper, Novo mesto, Tolmin, Idrija, and others.

Each year, a different overarching theme is selected for Brain Awareness Week, within which the functioning of the brain is presented. Previous themes have included the brain and love, sleep and dreaming, neurotypicality and neurodiversity, pain, crises, relationships, among others. The week begins with Monday’s opening ceremony, followed by plenary lectures that comprehensively present the theme from various perspectives. On Tuesday and Thursday, experts working in healthcare who deal with neurological and mental illnesses in practice illuminate clinical issues and therapeutic approaches related to the chosen theme. Wednesday is dedicated to hot topics in neuroscience, where significant neuroscientific discoveries of recent years are presented. The entire program is rounded off on Friday with a panel discussion among experts from various fields. Throughout the week, workshops for children and adults, as well as film screenings and discussions about their content in collaboration with the Slovenian Cinematheque and Fivia distribution, are also organized in partnership with external providers. Every year, we also organize an art competition for primary school students, generously rewarding those who participate. Since 2016, Wednesday of the third week of March has been proclaimed as the national day of the brain, which we celebrate each year with an event honoring this remarkable and mysterious organ.

The organizational group of Brain Awareness Week, operating within SiNAPSA, consists of medical students, psychology students, cognitive science students, biopsychology students, economics students, pharmacy students, pedagogy and adult education students, biology students, and others, as well as young professionals starting their careers.

The project ZdravaGlava.si (direct english translation would be “healthy head”) is a web platform created in 2019 by a group of students from the University of Ljubljana in collaboration with SiNAPSA, the Slovenian Neuroscience Association. A survey conducted in 2017 revealed that people in Slovenia desire greater access to scientifically supported information on brain health in Slovenian language. Therefore, a project was initiated to provide clear and understandable information, as well as recommendations. It is funded by the Republic of Slovenia, the European Union, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia. The website features summaries of scientific research, news from neuroscience, and tips for brain care, with contributions from students, young professionals, and leading experts. The project was made possible with the support of sponsors and constructive criticism from users.