Science Educator Award

Kelly Lambert, PhD (center), of the University of Richmond and Christian Bravo-Rivera, PhD (right), of the University of Puerto Rico were awarded the Science Educator Award in 2023.

The Science Educator Award, supported by The Dana Foundation, honors up to two neuroscientists who have made significant contributions to educating the public about neuroscience: one who conducts education activities fulltime, and/or one who devotes his/her time primarily to research while conducting outreach, policy and education activities.

Recipients receive a $5,000 honorarium, opportunity to write a feature commentary on science education in eNeuro, and complimentary registration, transportation (economy air or ground), and two nights hotel accommodations for the SfN annual meeting. The SfN president presents the award at a lecture at the meeting.

For more information, please review the Awards and Prizes FAQs.

Nomination Criteria & Materials

Nomination Criteria:

• Nominations must be made or endorsed by an SfN member.
• Nominees do not need to be SfN members.
• Self-nomination is not permitted.
• No person may nominate more than one candidate.
• Current SfN officers and councilors are ineligible for nomination.
• Due to the potential conflicts of interest, members of the selection committee may not be the nominees and they cannot serve as nominators nor write letters of recommendation.

Nomination materials include the following:

• One nomination letter with a summary of activities demonstrating the nominee's contributions to public education, maximum five pages
• Maximum of two optional letters of recommendation
• Maximum of three optional letters of support from members of the public impacted by the nominee's efforts
• Abbreviated portfolio of the nominee's work containing documentation of their efforts such as educational materials (video files, photographs, website links), publications (newspaper articles, manuscripts, books), and other printed materials (curricula)
• Current CV

Eligibility

Nominees must be actively involved in teaching and/or outreach activities at the time the prize is given. Types of eligible activities include:

• Programs for professional development of teachers and student research mentorships
• Development of traditional educational resources such as books, magazines, and newspaper articles
• Broadcasting, lectures, and other speaking engagements • Exhibit design or other public education and outreach efforts
• Website development in a variety of media formats of interest to the public, including blogs, videos, podcasts, etc

Nominators are encouraged to identify candidates whose contributions reach broad audiences that include children, primary and secondary teachers, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. 

Past Award Winners

• 2024: Theanne N. Griffith, PhD, and Emma Yhnell, PhD
• 2023: Christian Bravo-Rivera, PhD and Kelly Lambert, PhD
• 2022: Randy Blakely, PhD and Tessa Hirschfeld-Stoler, MPhil
• 2021: Stephen Macknik, PhD, and Debra Yourick, PhD
• 2020: John Pollock, PhD
• 2019: Stefano Sandrone, PhD, and Cristian A. Zaelzer-Pérez, PhD
• 2018: Fumiko Hoeft
• 2017: Paula L. Croxson, DPhil
• 2016: Norbert Myslinski, PhD
• 2015: Adam Gazzaley, PhD; E. Paul Zehr, PhD
• 2014: Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD
• 2013: Bobby Heagerty, MA and Martha J. Farah, PhD
• 2012: David M. Eagleman, PhD, and Jay N. Giedd, MD
• 2011: Janet Zadina, PhD
• 2010: James Olson, PhD
• 2009: Janet M. Dubinsky, PhD
• 2008: Thomas A. Woolsey, MD
• 2007: David P. Friedman, PhD
• 2006: Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD
• 2005: Colin Blakemore, PhD
• 2004: Rochelle Schwartz-Bloom, PhD
• 2003: Eric Chudler, PhD