Awards and Prizes

The BNA recognises, promotes and supports neuroscientific excellence via a number of award and prize schemes. You must be a BNA member in order to apply for the following awards and prizes.

On this page, you will find all you need to apply and nominate for each of the awards and prizes. The annual deadline for nominations has been extended to 14th November 2023 (unless otherwise stated). 

To find out more about our previous winners, see 'Our History'. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. 

 

BNA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience 

The Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award is the most prestigious prize conferred by the BNA.

Nominations for the BNA Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award can be made by any member of the BNA. Nominees need not be members of the BNA, but nominations must be made and supported by BNA members.

Nominations for the BNA Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award can be made by any member of the BNA, however nominees need not be members of the BNA. Please submit nominations for this prize via the online application form. Nominations should make a case for why the nominee should be recognised for their work in neuroscience.  

 

BNA Award for Public Engagement of Neuroscience 

 

This award aims to recognise those that make an outstanding contribution to engaging the public in Neuroscience. Nominations 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.

Please submit your nominations using the online application form.

 

Student Prizes 

Each year, the BNA awards an undergraduate (£250) and a postgraduate (£500) prize to student BNA members.  A list of all the Prize Winners since 1996 may be viewed in 'Our History'.

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 (2023 EXTENSION TO 14th NOVEMBER). The nomination and supporting documents may be sent by the student OR nominator. 

If you wish to apply for either prize but your studies have been disrupted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, then please do continue with your application as best you can as this will be taken into account when considering submissions.  

The specific requirements for applicants are as follows:

 

Postgraduate Prize 

To be eligible for the  postgraduate prize, candidates must have completed and submitted their thesis and had it approved (i.e. the PhD viva has taken place) within the 12 months preceding 31st October each year. We recognise that formal award of a PhD can take some time, and so we do not require that the PhD has been formally awarded in order to be eligible for the Prize.  The candidate must be a current BNA member.

In order to apply, please submit the following documentation to office@bna.org.uk, and complete the online application form by 14th November:

  • Letter of nomination from the student’s supervisor
  • External examiner’s report or recommendation
  • Abstract of the thesis
  • Statement from the student highlighting the importance of the work in the thesis

It is also beneficial to include a list of publications and presentations at meetings that have arisen from the work, and an indication of current career intentions. 

Master's students are also eligible and can also submit a Master's project for the Postgraduate prize. However, please be aware that these will be judged following the same criteria as those for a PhD thesis. At present the BNA does not have a separate category for Master's students.

 

Undergraduate Prize 

The area of study for this award can be broad, including not only neuroscience per se, but also subjects where a large part of the degree comprises neuroscience.

Applicants should be current undergraduate students, or have graduated within 12 months preceding 31st October each year.  The candidate must be a current BNA member.

In order to apply, please submit the following documentation to office@bna.org.uk, and complete the online application form by 14th November:

  • Letter of nomination from Course Tutor, Course Supervisor or Head of Department
  • Evidence of success in final summer examinations, including marks
  • Any supporting material, including final year dissertation/thesis, or a report on any research carried out by the student
  • A statement of career intentions

BNA Green Neuroscience Prize 

The BNA has declared a climate emergency and is taking action in response to raise awareness within the neuroscience sector of the urgent need to minimise the negative environmental impact of undertaking research, teaching and practice.

As part of this commitment, a new BNA prize is being launched in 2023 to recognise efforts in neuroscience aimed at reducing the environmental impact of research.

What is the Green Neuroscience prize?

The Green Neuroscience prize will be awarded for efforts by neuroscientists to make positive steps to reduce the environmental impact of their own research activities. These can include:

  • efforts relating to lowering  the carbon footprint within the nominee’s research projects, for example relating to key consumables used in the research (such as computing, liquid helium, laboratory equipment)
  • efforts within a nominee’s broader research activities to minimise their carbon footprint, such as maximising lower carbon options for meetings and travel linked to their research. 
  • efforts within their broader academic career relating to education and outreach, such as involvement in groups at their institution seeking to respond to the climate emergency, involvement in efforts to reduce an institution’s environmental impact, and efforts to raise awareness of the importance of urgent action responding to the climate emergency.

Who is eligible?

For this pilot year of the prize, nominations are invited from any UK-based individual or team (where the lead member is based in the UK). 

Any BNA member can make a nomination for the prize: 

  • Must be for work in neuroscience research
  • Nominee does not have to be a BNA member
  • BNA members can self-nominate, if submitted with a letter of recommendation (the letter would not need to be from a BNA member)
  • Team nominees must have one individual in the team identified as the key point of contact.
  • There is an expectation that activities for which the nomination relates to are current or ongoing. 
  • Nominees cannot be a member of the BNA’s Council, Committee, Credibility Advisory Board, or Green Neuroscience Working Group.

What's included in the prize?

In addition to receiving recognition of their outstanding contribution to Green Neuroscience, the prize winner will receive a £500 grant towards a future activity they organise to advance green neuroscience, and will be invited to talk about their work at a future BNA event. The winner will also have the opportunity to highlight their work within the BNA’s Journal, Brain and Neuroscience Advances.

How to apply

Nominations should be submitted via the online form (open for nominations from 1 Dec 2023). Nominations should include clear reasoning for why the nominee should be recognised for their work on reducing the carbon footprint of neuroscience research (max 4000 characters). The deadline for nominations is 31st January 2024.

Applications which do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be considered by the panel.

Timeline

  • 1 December 2023: nominations open
  • 31 January 2024: nominations close (23:45 GMT)
  • Early February 2024: shortlisted nominations considered by judging panel
  • Late Feb 2024: winner notified
  • The winner will be announced at the BNA Members Meeting: 24-25 April 2024

Top