BRAIN WAVES
Brain Waves is a national brain and spinal cord injury prevention program overseen by Parachute, Canada’s national injury prevention organization. BCIRPU is the provincial delivery partner for Brain Waves and the training site for volunteers in BC.
Through this program, the BCIRPU delivers free, informative, and fun neuroscience presentations for student in grades 4 to 6. Presentations take place in-person at schools, or they can be delivered virtually. The program is designed to align with the themes of basic anatomy and functions of the brain, nervous system, and spinal cord that are built within the school curriculum.
Key highlights of the program include proper helmet fitting and stresses to children the importance of protecting themselves and their brains from preventable injuries.
Trained college and university student volunteers from diverse academic fields including neuroscience, medicine, nursing, physical education, and kinesiology deliver virtual or in-class presentations via video vignettes, stories, demonstrations, games, and activities. To ensure the safety and security of the program, all the volunteers are registered through the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and undergo a Criminal Record Check. BCIRPU provides a comprehensive orientation and training to the registered volunteers.
Adhering to the Provincial Public Health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, BCIRPU is currently only providing virtual Brain Waves presentations in the month of February. We have now completed delivery for 2023. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please do so below. We will reach out to you first in 2024.
If you have any questions about the program, or you are a student interested in becoming a Brain Waves volunteer presenter, please contact the program coordinators Mojgan Karbakhsh or Anita Yau.