Outreach and Public Engagement
Taking neuroscience beyond the laboratory: talks, school visits and community work run by members of the society.
Working beyond the university
CamBRAIN is a young-investigators' society at the University of Cambridge. Alongside its academic programme of talks, presentations, workshops and symposia, the society takes part in outreach and public engagement, opening conversations about neuroscience with people outside the university.
Public neuroscience talks
Members present accessible talks on neuroscience topics, giving audiences outside the research community a straightforward introduction to how the brain and nervous system are studied.
Schools and community links
The society works with local schools and community groups, building partnerships that bring neuroscience demonstrations and discussion into educational settings.
Awareness and interest groups
Outreach themes reflect the society's wider interest groups, including women in neuroscience, neuroethics, global mental health, neurolaw, brain art and mental wellbeing.
How the society is built
Outreach is carried by the same membership that runs the academic and social side of the society: undergraduate, postgraduate, research assistant and post-doctoral members.
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Membership | Undergraduate, postgraduate, research assistant and post-doctoral members, united around a shared interest in neuroscience. |
| Programme | Academic talks, presentations, workshops, symposia and social events. |
| Public engagement | Engaging the public on neuroscience topics, partnerships with local schools and communities, and promoting neuroscience awareness. |
| Interest groups | Women in neuroscience, neuroethics, global mental health, neurolaw, brain art and mental wellbeing. |
| Joining | Membership is free. |
Get involved
If you would like to contribute to an outreach activity, propose a topic or talk to the society, get in touch through the contact form, or follow the society on Facebook and Twitter at @CamBrainCNS.
Outreach is where CamBrainSociety's mission meets the public. While the society is rooted in the university and its academic programme of talks, presentations, workshops and symposia, this work extends the conversation outward to schools, community groups and other audiences outside the research community. The aim is to make neuroscience feel approachable, replacing distant jargon with clear explanation of how the brain and body shape mood, thinking and behaviour.
Public neuroscience talks are a core part of that effort. Members prepare accessible presentations that open doors to subjects such as stress, the physical effects of mental strain, and the biological basis of feelings and mood. Speakers work carefully to translate technical ideas for listeners who may have no background in the field, so that concepts like chronic stress responses, sleep, and emotional regulation land meaningfully rather than abstractly.
School visits bring the same spirit into a younger setting. Sessions are designed to spark curiosity about the mind and the body, showing young people that mental health is connected to physiology as well as to life circumstances. Facilitators encourage questions, reflection and discussion, building awareness of warning signs and coping strategies in a supportive, non-judgemental atmosphere that normalises asking for help when difficulties appear.
Community work continues the conversation beyond campus, helping people recognise how demanding environments affect mental wellbeing. By engaging with the public on stress, depression, anxiety, weight gain and related challenges, the society contributes to wider mental health awareness. This work reflects a broader belief: understanding the brain equips individuals to manage psychological strain, relate to others more effectively and seek appropriate support when conditions begin to interfere with daily functioning.