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6th December 2019
Our prizes
The BNA recognises, promotes and supports neuroscientific excellence via a number of prize schemes. Read below for full details and past prize winners.
Contents |
BNA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience
This is the most prestigious of the BNA's awards.
Any member of the BNA can make a nomination for the BNA Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award. Candidates need not be members of the BNA, but nominations must be made and supported by BNA members.
Nominations should be sent by email to office@bna.org.uk by 31st October each year. These should make a case for why the nominee should be recognised for their work in neuroscience. If you have any questions please contact the BNA office.
Past Winners
| Year | Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience |
| 2018 | Professor Irene Tracey Head of Department for the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Professor of Anaesthetic Science Oxford University |
| 2017 | Professor Michael Owen Professor of Psychological Medicine (Psychiatry) Cardiff University |
| 2016 | Professor David Ogden Université Paris Descartes |
| 2015 | Professor Angela Vincent MBBS (Hon PhD Bergen) FRCPath FMedSci FRD, University of Oxford |
| 2014 | Professor Dame Kay Davies CBE, DBE, F.MedSci., FRS. University of Oxford |
| 2013 | Professor Uta Frith Professor of Cognitive Development UCL Institute of Neuroscience |
| 2012 | Professor Steven Rose Emeritus Professor of Biology, Open University. Emeritus Professor of Phsick, Gresham College London. Visiting Professor, University College London. |
| 2011 | Sir Gabriel Horn FRS FRCP Emeritus Professor of Zoology University of Cambridge |
| 2010 | Not awarded |
| 2009 | FRS Professor Geoffrey Burnstock FRS |
| 2008 | FRS Professor Chris Frith FRS |
| 2007 | Professor John O'Keefe FRS |
| 2006 | Professor Horace Barlow FRS |
| 2005 | Professor Richard Gregory FRS |
| 2004 | Professor Geoffrey Raisman FRS |
| 2003 | Dr Tim Bliss |
| 2002 | Professor Richard Morris FRS FRSE |
| 2001 | Professor Colin Blakemore FRS |
| 2000 | Professor Patrick Wall FRS First recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Neuroscience Award |
BNA Award for Public Engagement of Neuroscience
Any member of the BNA can make a nomination for the BNA award for public engagement. Candidates need not be members of the BNA, but nominations must be made and supported by BNA members.
Nominations should be sent by email to office@bna.org.uk by 31st October each year. These should make a case for why the nominee should be recognised for their work, in any capacity, in the field of public engagement in neuroscience.
Past prize winners
| Year | Public Engagement of Neuroscience |
| 2018 | Dr Emma Yhnell Cardiff University. Health and Care Research Wales Fellow working in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI). Fellowship focusing on computerised cognitive training (brain training) for people with Huntington's disease. Dedicated STEM ambassador and role model who was awarded the prestigious Charles Darwin Lecture at the 2018 British Science Festival. |
| 2017 | Dr Dervila Glynn University of Cambridge. Neuroscience coordinator who supports neuroscientists across the institution through activities including conferences and seminars. Significant contributor to BRAINfest public event in 2017. |
| 2016 | Dr Emma Robinson University of Bristol. A full time neuroscientist who is also highly active in carrying out public engagement, and in facilitating other people to do so via the Bristol Neuroscience Festival. |
| Public Understanding of Neuroscience | |
| 2015 |
Professor Mark Lythgoe |
| 2014 | Science Media Centre Fiona Fox, Chief Executive and Dr Edward Sykes, Senior Press Manager and Head of Mental Health & Neuroscience. |
| 2013 | Dr Jane Haley Edinburgh Neuroscience Coordinator, University of Edinburgh |
| 2012 | Claudia Hammond British author, occasional TV presenter, and frequent radio presenter with the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 |
| 2011 | Oliver Sacks MD FRCP Neurologist and Author; Columbia University, New York |
| 2010 | Ben Goldacre Medical doctor, author and blogger |
| 2009 | Mary Baker MBE |
| 2008 | Sir Terry Pratchett |
| 2007 | Lord (David) Sainsbury of Turville |
| 2006 | Michael Robins |
| 2005 | Dr Mark Matfield |
| 2004 | European DANA Alliance for the Brain (EDAB) |
| 2003 | Lord (Jack) Ashley of Stoke |
| 2002 | Marjorie Wallace (SANE) |
| 2001 | Lord (Brian) Rix of Hornsea (MENCAP) |
| 2000 | Andrew Blake |
| 1999 | Julia Somerville First recipient of the BNA Public Service Award |
BNA Undergraduate and Postgraduate Prizes
Each year, the BNA awards an undergraduate (£250) and a postgraduate (£500) prize to student BNA members. Our prize winners often, if not always, go on to be highly successful in their chosen fields, playing a leading role in neuroscience.
Applicants for both postgraduate and undergraduate prizes must be current BNA members. All nominations should be sent by email to office@bna.org.uk by 31st October each year. We encourage you to nominate your students!
The specific requirements for applicants can be found under the 'For members' section of the website. Please get in touch with any questions.
BNA Undergraduate and Postgraduate Prize Winners
| Year | Undergraduate Winner | Postgraduate Winner |
| 2018 | Rachel Coney (University of Leeds) |
Delia Fuhrmann (University College London) |
| 2017 | Irene Echeverria Altuna (University College London) |
Gido van de Ven (University of Oxford) |
| 2016 | Jointly awarded to: Alina Gutoreva (University of Leeds) Blair Wilson (University of Edinburgh) |
Chen Song (University College London) |
| 2015 | Veselina Petrova (University of Edinburgh) |
Kathryn Mills (University College London) |
| 2014 | Lauren Byrne (University of Edinburgh) |
Linda Katona (University of Oxford) |
| 2013 | Elina Jacobs (University of Edinburgh) |
Rumana Chowdhury (University College London) |
| 2012 | Lewis Hou (University of Edinburgh) |
Dr Florence Rose Fricker (King's College London) |
| 2011 | Kate Clark (University of Central Lancashire) Special Commendation to Joseph Norris (King's College London) |
Dr Christian Münch (LMB, University of Cambridge) |
| 2010 | Owen Thomas (University of Birmingham) Special Commendation to Sally Harris (University of Bristol) |
Dr Stephanie Burnett |
| 2009 | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 2008 | Phillip Goldrich (University of Leeds) |
Dr Lara Menzies (University of Cambridge) |
| 2007 | Richard Hickman (University of Birmingham) |
Dr Rosamund Langston (University of Edinburgh) |
| 2006 | Sophie Buglass (University of Leeds) |
Dr Karen Luyt (University of Bristol) |
| 2005 | Jointly awarded to: Luxmi Fatimathas (University College London) Matthew Martin (University of Bradford) |
Dr Felipe Court (University of Edinburgh) |