In an inspiring showcase of dedication and innovation, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has announced this year’s recipients of their prestigious Science Education and Outreach Awards. These accolades recognize individuals and groups whose transformative efforts have significantly enhanced neuroscience education and public engagement across diverse communities worldwide. This year, awards span several categories, including the Award for Education in Neuroscience, the Science Educator Award, the Next Generation Awards, and the Chapter of the Year Awards. Each recipient exemplifies a unique approach to broadening access, deepening understanding, and fostering the next generation of neuroscientists.
The Science Educator Award, supported by the Allen Institute, honors two remarkable neuroscientists who excel in education and outreach, one dedicating themselves full-time to education and another who balances a primary research career with intensive outreach activities. The recipients of this year’s award are Dr. Sadaf Ahmed and Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, both of whom have crafted innovative strategies to bring neuroscience to the public in compelling and culturally relevant ways.
Dr. Sadaf Ahmed, an associate professor and the director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing at the University of Karachi, has pioneered neuroscience education and outreach in Pakistan, a region historically underserved in science communication. She has shattered glass ceilings as the first woman president-elect of the Pakistan Society of Basic and Applied Neuroscience (PASBAN). Her prolific efforts involve conducting over 200 public seminars and science awareness programs delivered in Urdu and other local dialects, thereby localizing scientific knowledge and making it accessible to diverse linguistic groups. Her integration of media platforms and interactive educational tools translates complex neurophysiological concepts into everyday language for wide public consumption.
Similarly, Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa at the University of California, Irvine, directs outreach and education initiatives that engage learners across the entire educational spectrum—from young students to graduate researchers. As the founder of the UCI Brain Camp, she offers an immersive two-week summer experience blending neuroscience fundamentals with practical skills such as data analysis and public speaking. Her leadership in the USA Brain Bee program, a nationwide neuroscience competition for high schoolers, forms a cornerstone of her commitment to cultivating early scientific curiosity. Furthermore, Dr. Yassa has spearheaded the Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience, which immerses undergraduates in intensive research while preparing them professionally, showcasing a pipeline approach to neuroscience education.
The Award for Education in Neuroscience was presented to Dr. Diego Golombek, a plenary professor based at the University of San Andrés in Argentina who has profoundly influenced Latin American neuroscience education and outreach. Dr. Golombek’s vision birthed the National Program for Science Education, fostering science engagement via clubs and camps targeted at teenagers. His multifaceted approach includes directing the first National Science Popularization Program through Argentina’s Ministry of Science and Technology and founding the Cultural Center for Science in Buenos Aires, a public hub blending exhibitions, educational laboratories, and auditoriums designed to democratize access to scientific inquiry. His prolific writing, comprising over twenty popular science books, alongside his role as editor-in-chief of an extensive science book series and as the host of several nationally broadcast brain science shows, demonstrates his mastery in communicating neuroscience to broad audiences with cultural nuance and accessibility.
The Next Generation Award recognized two outstanding contributors: the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) Greater Baltimore Chapter and Dr. Ming-fai Fong from the Atlanta Area Neuroscience Chapter. The IYNA embodies a global, student-led initiative designed to engage and support emerging neuroscientists through educational resources and community building. Their efforts encompass an annual “introduction to neuroscience” summer course, a student-run neuroscience journal, and diverse partnerships that amplify neuroscience awareness and education worldwide. The organization’s emphasis on inclusivity and empowerment fosters a vibrant pipeline for future researchers through mentorship and accessible learning opportunities.
In parallel, Dr. Ming-fai Fong exemplifies how neuroscience research and education can intersect with social impact, particularly for communities with visual disabilities. An assistant professor engaged in biomedical engineering at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Fong’s work engineering novel plasticity-based tools seeks to treat neurodevelopmental visual impairments. Beyond the laboratory, she conducts innovative workshops and STEM education camps tailored to blind and visually impaired youth, enabling accessibility to complex concepts such as phototransduction and neuroengineering through tactile and auditory learning modalities. Dr. Fong’s outreach not only advances scientific literacy but also fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of disability experiences among researchers and the public alike.
Complementing individual recognitions, SfN also bestowed the Chapter of the Year Award on three chapters showcasing exceptional local leadership: Chapter Perú, the DC Metro Area Chapter, and NeuroBoston. Chapter Perú has made strides by orchestrating major neuroscience congresses that connect researchers with educational and policy sectors, affording nearly a thousand attendees access to cutting-edge discussions on brain health, ethics, and gender equity. Their initiatives span rural outreach and mentorship programs, strategically targeting underserved areas to amplify neuroscience education at the grassroots level.
The DC Metro Area Chapter has distinguished itself through professional development programming, advocacy workshops, and community science events that forge stronger public connections and advance science communication. Their activities include congressional advocacy talks, family-friendly Brain Awareness Day celebrations, and regional STEM competitions that ignite curiosity among younger audiences while fostering professional skills among neuroscientists.
Meanwhile, NeuroBoston continues to strengthen neuroscience education and research outreach in the Boston area. Their annual meetings, poster sessions, and competitive platforms nurture early career scientists, while their sponsorship of the Boston Regional Brain Bee engages high school students in neuroscience challenges and educational tours. Innovatively, they are developing a “Portable Neuroscience Lab” to facilitate hands-on, interactive lessons directly in classrooms, enhancing outreach to resource-limited schools and broadening equitable access to neuroscience education.
Each of these awardees embodies SfN’s commitment to transforming neuroscience education through inclusivity, creativity, and impactful communication. Their contributions, from grassroots efforts to large-scale national programs, highlight a shared mission: to deepen the public’s understanding of the brain and nervous system and inspire future generations to advance this vital field.
As neuroscience continues to unravel the complexities of the brain, these leaders in education and outreach exemplify how bridging science with communities is paramount for cultivating an informed, inclusive, and engaged society. Their innovative approaches and heartfelt dedication resonate as a blueprint for effective science communication in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.
The 2025 SfN annual meeting will serve as the stage where these trailblazers will be celebrated, their work highlighted, and their visions for future outreach expanded. Through their efforts, neuroscience transcends laboratory walls, becoming a shared cultural and educational treasure accessible to all.
Subject of Research: Neuroscience Education and Outreach Initiatives
Article Title: Society for Neuroscience Honors Leaders Driving Global Neuroeducation Innovation
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Keywords: Neuroscience, Science Education, Public Outreach, Neuroscience Education Programs, Neuroscience Communication, Science Accessibility, Visual Disability, STEM Education, Youth Neuroscience Engagement, Science Advocacy
