We are committed to actively sharing our findings about healthier cognitive and brain ageing with a wide range of non-academic audiences. Find out about our public engagement and knowledge exchange activities. Sharing secrets of healthy ageing with non-academic audiences We organise and facilitate engagement activities, includingtalks, exhibitions, and workshopswith children, policy makers, artists and mediaat festivals, galleries, museums and schools. The Disconnected Mind Newsletters with news about the team, publications and ev… Read about Lothian Birth Cohorts celebrating 20 years of research into ageing Policy The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study was funded by Age UK as the 'Disconnected Mind' project since the study's inception in 2004. We have worked closely with Age UK translating our findings to wider audiences. In 2017 Age UK launched the Staying Sharp web-pages, based on the Lothian Birth Cohorts' findings:Visit Staying Sharp pages with tips on staying sharp in later lifeWatch a short animation of Professor Ian Deary acting out how to stay sharp in later lifeOur research has been cited in over 60 policy documents (you can download a list of the documents and referenced publications from the PDF file below).Read Dr Janie Corley's written evidence for the UK parliament on urban green spaces, based on LBC research.Watch an animation summarising the findings of an ESRC-funded project investigating the impact of the environment on healthy ageing. Document List of policy documents with LBC-related citations (October 2024) (39.22 KB / XLSX) Participant engagement We work closely with the Lothian Birth Cohorts participants to share our latest findings in regular reunions, annual newsletters and invitations to focus groups and participant panels. Participants together with the team often contribute to interviews for documentaries, podcasts and radio shows as well as press and media. The Great British Intelligence Test, a BBC Two Horizon special episode featuring the Lothian Birth Cohorts study, its participants and Professor Ian Deary and Dr Simon CoxEdinburgh brain study comes of age, a BBC Radio Scotland's episode of Brainwaves podcast about the 20th anniversary of Lothian Birth Cohorts' researchThe Lothian Birth Cohort, a permanent display at the National Museum of ScotlandWho gets to be 100?, a podcast series with two of the LBC1921 participants who celebrated their 100th birthdayEach December the participants receive our Christmas Newsletter, with updates about the team, findings and events. Educational program "Marginal Gains" We have developed an educational programme focused on raising awareness of brain and cognitive ageing across various groups. The programme is built around the influential “Marginal Gains” paper, which has inspired a suite of activities and events aimed at the general public. We deliver hands-on workshops, using Augmented Reality glasses and 3D printed brains to communicate our findings in more accessible and engaging ways, and aim for events that stimulate discussion.Read this free article summarising years of research into healthy cognitive ageing in the Lothian Birth CohortsThe Game of Life: Who gets to be 100?Our "Game of Life" workshop is centered around a boardgame “Game of Life: Who gets to be 100?”, inspired by LBC research. Since its launch at the Edinburgh Science Festival in April 2024 we have delivered the workshop to almost 200 participants, including primary school pupils and adults joining the Curious Festival, organised by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Email us to lbc.ke@ed.ac.uk for a free copy of the boardgame!Promoting intergenerational connections through art, science and dialogueOur partnerships beyond academia include school collaborations. With the support of a recent CAHSS KE&I grant we lead a 10-week intergenerational educational programme that involves a local high school, care homes and artists. Science workshops for Primary and Secondary SchoolsBrain matters: Explore your senses: a science workshop for P4sDiscover Neuroscience: science workshops for S4-6 pupils Artwork and Exhibitions Art helps us communicate complex scientific ideas and discoveries to wider audiences. Find out more about some of our collaborations:The Art of Intelligent Ageing: an exhibition of LBC portraits by Fionna Carlisle (you can view some of the portrait images in the PDF file below)The Developing Brain exhibition with two LBC installations: Shedding Light on the Brain inspired by glass paperweights that were created as gifts for participants to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Lothian Birth Cohorts (you can read about the project in the PDF file below)Watching your Brain highlighting two sides of science: on one hand, abstract data leading to important discoveries and on the other hand, the participants who provide their data and without whose dedication and commitment it would be impossible to make these discoveries. If you are interested in arranging or participating in our activities, contact the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Officer at lbc.ke@ed.ac.uk or the LBC1936 team at lbc1936@ed.ac.uk. This article was published on 2023-11-23
