BAW Committee: Jack Guthrie

Jack Guthrie (left), with Dr. Laura Dumas

Last year’s Brain Awareness Week, an annual event celebrating strides in neuroscience research, was Jack Guthrie’s first introduction to the Brain Repair Centre’s ongoing work to educate students and young people about the amazing possibilities that lie in the field of neuroscience.   

Originally from Ottawa, Jack received a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry at Acadia University. Now a PhD student in Dr. Victor Rafuse’s lab, he was excited about the potential of the event and inspired to join this year’s Brain Awareness Week planning committee. Other organizers included Dr. Tara Perrot and a number of neuroscience graduates. He hopes that this year’s event has impacted and empowered attendees to consider careers in neuroscience. 

“I know as a high schooler, I wasn’t aware of Brain Awareness Week,” said Jack. “I see it as a cool opportunity to educate the public on a lot of research that’s going on in Halifax and around the world.” Since starting the graduate program at Dalhousie, he has had a front row seat to the important work being conducted in the field. 

Jack’s hope is to educate and inspire students of all ages, so they have opportunities to plan and make good choices for their own careers. 

“Communicating science is tough, but Brain Awareness Week offers ways to help young people connect with research and science at age-appropriate levels,” he said. “Any real outreach that involves science is important, and the Brain Repair Centre does a good job of providing engaging ways for students to learn about research that they may not have access to in school.”  

With a background in biology and chemistry, Jack’s interest in neuroscience began with his passion for contributing to the research behind neurodegenerative disorders, mainly ALS. “It feels good to tell my family about the work being done on neurological disorders,” he said. “I’m very proud to tell them about the Brain Repair Centre’s dedication to research that may have clinical applications for people living with these diseases.”