GBHI | Creative Brain Week | Theme of Day: Joy

The complexity of Joy. The simplicity of Joy.

• Is Joy where creativity and neuroscience align?


• How is this affecting people’s lives?


• Where might the pursuit of Joy lead?

Details and register here



9.30am - 9.50am Reflections and Introductions Ian Robertson, Chris Bailey, Atlantic Fellow, Autumn Brown Music by Mike Hanrahan 10.00am – 12.15pm Complex Joy?: A celebration of Brain Health in People with Down syndrome Remarkable changes in perception and experience of people with Down Syndrome introduce the complexity of Joy.

• Hosted by - Eimear McGlinchey  and Mei Lin Yap 


• Fintan Bray - The Importance of Inclusion - first person with Down Syndrome to be elected to a political party in Ireland (Ard Comhairle, Fianna Fail)


• Eimear McGlinchey + members of Brain Buzzers - Introduction to Brain Health Initiatives/Research in Ireland


• Juan Fortea - Latest neuroimaging and biomarker research in dementia in people with Down syndrome 


• Sean Kennelly - Inclusion of people with Down syndrome in clinical trials for dementia  


• Mary McCarron, Professor of Ageing & Intellectual Disability, School of Nursing & Midwifery. On Joy

12.15 – 1.00  Creative Brain Week Living Labs Daily sessions offer attendees an opportunity to discuss, develop and reflect on the themes of the day through

• dance and movement with Ailish Claffey


• visual arts Eliza Squibb and Wambui Karanja,


• neuroscience and dialogue


• Mike Hanrahan and Aline Haas dance performance

These sessions reflect the engaged nature of the event and will be added to on the day 1 - 2.00pm Lunch 2pm - 3.30 -  The Joy of Shared Learning The Creative Brain is rooted in the concept of equity. Case studies of the concept delivered and attempts to sustain change. Chaired by Carmel O Sullivan

• Iracema Leroi -  inclusive research, SENSE Cog.  Ref here


• Sarah Fox and Milton Lopez -  Arts and Brain.com.


• Kim MacKenzie Doyle - The Big Idea. Ref here


• Corrina Grimes -  Health systems change.

4.00 -5.30pm – Led By Joy? Connecting insights from creativity and neuroscience for enduring global health. Creative Brain Week 2023  looks forward. How might the health of a small interconnected planet be nurtured from a week in Dublin? Hosted by Dominic Campbell with

• Chris Bailey – Keynote on Joy as Healthcare


• Dr Linda Doyle - Provost, Trinity College Dublin


• Tania Banotti  – Creativity, Climate and Health

Closing remarks: Brian Lawlor and Ian Robertson -- Creative Brain Week is a Global Brain Health Institute innovation at Trinity College Dublin presented in association with the Healing Arts Initiative of WHO and with support from Creative Ireland and the Atlantic Institute.