Green Neuroscience
The BNA is taking action to raise awareness within the neuroscience sector of the urgent need to minimise the negative environmental impact of undertaking research, teaching and practice.
Solarising an MRI in a remote, rural setting takes an incredible amount of work. I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues at the Gates Foundation’s Unity Project, Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London, and the Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research for their collaboration and unwavering support. This is especially true for Dr. Niall Bourke and Professor Andrew Prendergast, whose leadership and commitment were instrumental. A heartfelt thank you as well to the dedicated local team in Zimbabwe, whose tireless work on the ground made this achievement possible... A world first for sustainable neuroscience.
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?
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.