StratNeuro and The Cell host high school students for Brain Awareness Week
On 18 March 2026, StratNeuro partnered with The Cell to host students from Järva Gymnasium for an engaging afternoon focused on neuroscience. The programme provided a unique opportunity to explore current research and engage with scientists and students, offering insight into academic pathways and life in science. The event was part of Brain Awareness Week (16-22 March 2026).
The programme began at Urban Deli with neuroscience presentations from Zeynep Okur (Postdoctoral Fellow, Neuroplasticity Group) and Ann-Kathrin Knak (PhD student, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine). Their talks introduced students to both fundamental and applied neuroscience research:
- "Bringing light to the dark: A new way to engineer memories” - Zeynep discussed the molecular mechanisms underlying memory formation in both healthy and traumatic conditions, as well as the experimental tools used to study these processes.
- “Invisible Fatigue – Can our smartphone see it?” - Ann-Kathrin talked about emerging digital approaches to monitoring fatigue, highlighting how smartphone-based applications can support patients in managing fatigue in their daily lives.
The presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session, with students actively engaging in discussion and raising questions about the research topics presented.
Following the talks, students rotated through parallel activities that provided complementary perspectives on neuroscience research and communication. In the laboratory workshop (Brain Signals), students participated in an interactive session that introduced practical aspects of neuroscience beyond the classroom. At The Cell, students explored the exhibition, engaging with the intersection of art and science. During a fika session, students met with KI student ambassadors and our speakers, creating opportunities for informal discussions about higher education, research environments, and potential career paths in science.
We would like to thank Ann-Kathrin and Zeynep for their engaging presentations and for sharing insights on their career path. We would also like to thank all the fantastic collaborators who made this event possible:
- Magdalena Tafvelin Heldner (Tekniska Museet), Samira Bouabana (The Cell) and Mariline Mendes Silva (StratNeuro) for coordinating and organizing the event.
- Sofie and Uo for leading the Brain Signals workshop.
- Sara Gunningberg (coordinator at Student Support Office), and our KI student ambassadors Hanifa and Ymir for sharing valuable perspectives on education and student life at KI.
Through initiatives such as this, StratNeuro aims to raise awareness of career paths in neuroscience and provide insight into how research is conducted and its relevance to everyday life.
