Introducing the Brenda Walker Award for Neuroscience Communication
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) is proud to announce the launch of a new award that celebrates and amplifies the voices of those who help make neuroscience more accessible, inclusive, and impactful beyond the scientific community.
About the Award
The Brenda Walker Award for Neuroscience Communication recognises outstanding contributions to the public understanding, accessibility, or representation of neuroscience, particularly from individuals outside the professional neuroscience community.
Whether through storytelling, advocacy, lived experience, creative projects, or public engagement, this award honours those who inspire wider audiences to connect with neuroscience in meaningful and inclusive ways.
Eligible nominees include:
- BNA Associate Members
- Non-scientists and science communicators
- Individuals with lived experience of neurological or psychiatric conditions
- Anyone who has demonstrably influenced how neuroscience is communicated, represented, or understood by the public
The winner of the Brenda Walker Award will receive:
- Editorial mentorship to publish a BNA Insight article in the BNA’s journal, Brain and Neuroscience Advances, including one-to-one guidance from the Editor-in-Chief and detailed feedback on their draft.
- A feature on the BNA blog and website, showcasing their work to the broader neuroscience community and public.
Celebrating the Inaugural Winner: Brenda Walker
We are deeply honoured to announce Associate Member Brenda Walker as the inaugural recipient of the award that bears her name.
Brenda has been a dedicated member and passionate advocate of our associate membership category and of making neuroscience accessible to non-neuroscientists. She has contributed multiple book reviews to the BNA website and initiated this activity independently. Since her diagnosis with MND, Brenda has been advocating for better understanding of the impact of living with neurological conditions and has contributed to a paper and interviews supporting the Assisted Dying bill.
Please take time to read her paper, published in our Journal, Brain and Neuroscience Advances.
Brenda's insight, integrity, and impact make her not only a fitting first recipient, but also an inspiring model for future winners of the award.
The launch of the Brenda Walker Award underscores our commitment to taking neuroscience beyond laboratories and lecture theatres, embracing the diverse perspectives and powerful voices of those with lived experience, and championing those who make it accessible to everyone.
Looking Ahead
The Brenda Walker Award will be open to nominations annually, with more details to follow on how to apply or nominate someone whose work deserves recognition.
We look forward to celebrating more individuals who help neuroscience reach wider audiences - and to honouring Brenda’s legacy by keeping those efforts visible, valued, and vital to the future of our field.