How can we ensure neurotechnology serves everyone—fairly and responsibly?

The Neurotech Justice Accelerator at Mass General Brigham (NJAM) is training the next generation of neuroscience and society leaders working across medicine, law, ethics, research, and technology. Two of NJAM’s co-directors share how their program is building a more just neurotech future—with training tracks for students and professionals.

https://civicsciencemedia.org/what-are-the-objectives-of-the-neurotech-justice-accelerator-at-mass-general-brigham/

ICYMI: Our latest NeuroSociety Stories episode features sociologist and MIT professor Oliver Rollins.

Rollins is a part of the Neurotech Justice Accelerator at Mass General Brigham, a Dana Center, where he works to ensure that emerging neurotechnologies are developed and applied in ways that are ethically grounded and socially just.

Learn more about his background and work.

#neurosociety #neurolaw #neuroethics #neurotech

https://dana.org/article/how-neuroscience-is-shaping-justice/

Attend a Congressional Briefing highlighting key accomplishments, research priorities, and real-world applications that are transforming our understanding of brain function and addiction science for Americans.

May 7, 2025 at 2:30 pm ET

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoP9Q6SxC3kQLSG5FPyNAwR5HnUdSM39hgdbiD99PPzWc3rw/viewform

Watch the latest episode of NeuroSociety Stories with sociologist and MIT professor Oliver Rollins.

Drawing from years of research at the intersection of science, law, and social justice, Rollins sheds light on how scientific discoveries are not only reshaping legal thinking, but also challenging how we define concepts like culpability, responsibility, and rehabilitation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY5GuDcYAh8&t

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology piloted event-based models to explore what brain health means to Chicago communities and to help bridge the disconnect between science and society.

Using a human-centered approach to engage and benefit local residents, the collaboration organized three in-person events focused on brain health.

Discover more about these events and this model.

#brainhealth #neurosociety #neuroscience #publicengagement

https://dana.org/article/a-community-based-approach-to-science-outreach/

Join us for a congressional briefing highlighting key accomplishments, research priorities, and real-world applications that are transforming our understanding of brain function and addiction science for Americans.

May 7, 2025 at 2:30 pm ET

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC

#neurosociety #addiction #brainresearch

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoP9Q6SxC3kQLSG5FPyNAwR5HnUdSM39hgdbiD99PPzWc3rw/viewform

In her latest President’s Perspective, Caroline Montojo reflects on recent advances in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), ethical considerations to ensure neurotechnologies evolve in ways that are safe and rooted in the needs of all people, and the Foundation’s collaboration with the Implantable BCI Collaborative Community.

https://dana.org/article/advancing-neurotechnology-responsibly-the-power-of-collaboration/

Some of us are headed to Munich next week for Neuroethics 2025, hosted by the International Neuroethics Society. We’re looking forward to further exploring neuroethics at the intersection of the brain and artificial intelligence, and to connecting with others there. #neuroethics2025 #neuroethics #neurosociety

The UCLA-CDU Dana Center for Neuroscience and Society has been paving the way for a new kind of scientific partnership, one where new visions for relevant neuroscience research could be led by the public. Learn about three of its collaborations with the Los Angeles community to address real-world challenges.

https://lifesciences.ucla.edu/2025/03/ucla-cdu-dana-center-seed-grant-2025/

Read the winning articles from the Loyola University Chicago Program for Neuroscience and Society’s journalism competition. Loyola undergrads report on topics related to addiction, neuromarketing, and depression. The second round of the Neuroscience Journalism Competition is open now, through May 15. Students at universities nationwide are invited to submit!

#neurosociety #scicomm #neuroscience #neuroethics

https://dana.org/article/empowering-student-journalism-on-neuroscience/

According to a 2022 survey conducted by Research!America and funded by the Dana Foundation, Americans place brain health and mental health high on their list of most important health issues. Yet, two-thirds report having little to no knowledge about brain health research and best practices to keep their brains healthy. Neuroscientists and neurologists offer their advice in a new article by CNBC.

#neurosociety #brainhealth #mentalheath

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/27/5-best-practices-for-keeping-your-brain-healthy-and-sharp.html

In her latest President’s Perspective, Dana Foundation President Caroline Montojo discusses the Foundation’s efforts to improve patient care and strengthen public understanding of the brain by investing in educational programs for clinicians and mental health professionals.

#neurosociety #brainresearch #mentalhealth

https://dana.org/article/strengthening-public-understanding-of-brain-science-through-health-practitioners/

On this day 75 years ago, the Dana Foundation was officially established by Charles A. Dana and Eleanor Naylor Dana, setting a course for a philanthropic commitment to health and education. Learn about the Foundation’s history and the evolution of our work in our anniversary timeline. https://dana.org/75th-anniversary-timeline/

Coming soon! Our next episode of NeuroSociety Stories features Oliver Rollins, qualitative sociologist and assistant professor of Science, Technology, and Society at MIT.

Rollins is part of a team of renowned scholars at Mass General Brigham who received a multi-million-dollar grant from the Dana Foundation to ensure that emerging brain technologies are used fairly and ethically in medical and legal settings.

Explore the future of neuroscience through the lens of inspiring young minds, creative outreach programs, and powerful personal stories, in this webinar from the American Brain Coalition.

#NeuroSociety #neuroscience #neuro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIIh-DQwpCA

Visit our resources page to learn more about neuroscience and society and to find tools to engage with others around topics important to the field. Sort through fact sheets, lesson plans, lectures, and more on brain science and its intersection with society.

https://dana.org/resources/

As we mark our 75th anniversary, we reflect with gratitude on our collaborations and achievements in health and science. Looking ahead, we remain inspired and energized by the continued potential to drive meaningful progress in society through neuroscience.

Watch a brief overview of our journey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHJtA9CRYTw

Dana Foundation Vice President of Neuroscience & Society Khara Ramos reflects on the importance of civic science for meeting the grand challenges of today and in the future in the February issue of the Civic Science Series.

#civicscience #neurosociety #neuroethics #neuroscience

https://civicsciencefellows.org/stories/civic-science-building-capacity-to-envision-and-achieve-grand-challenges/

At the Meeting of the Minds event hosted by Rice University, Dana Vice President Khara Ramos spoke about the Foundation’s focus on neuroscience education, training, and public engagement, observing a “hunger in academia to better understand how to knit together science and non-STEM disciplines like social sciences, ethics, policy, and law.”

Read more: https://dana.org/article/meeting-of-the-minds/

For 30 years, Brain Awareness Week has educated people of all ages about the brain in an aim to foster enthusiasm and support for brain research. The campaign events have also helped promote the Foundation’s mission to show the importance of neuroscience in our everyday lives.

Learn more about the history of Brain Awareness Week and its continued success over the years.

#BrainAwarenessWeek #BrainWeek #brainscience #neuroscience #neurosociety

https://dana.org/article/three-decades-of-brain-awareness/