Tackling taboos and playing with plasticine - plus other ways of fostering neuroscience research
Posted: 05/11/2007
YND 2008 22 October - brand new format - bigger and better and open for registration! See www.youngneuroscientistsday.com for full YND2008 details.
YND2007: photos of main program and photos of evening event.
What do you get when you gather over 200 young neuroscientists together for a day devoted to the latest brain-based research? And then add some plasticine?
If the Young Neuroscientists’ Day held on Monday 29th October was anything to go by, it seems the neuroscientists of the future are not only talented and dedicated scientists, but also possess hidden depths of creativity just waiting to be set free.
The Young Neuroscientists’ Day was co-hosted by the Universities of Bristol and Cardiff in association with BCNC and the British Neuroscience Association, and catered specifically for those just starting on their career in neuroscience. It provided opportunities to:
- meet other young neuroscientists
- present research
- meet BNA President and sign up for membership
- gain feedback from peers
- find out how to get into public engagement – and why its important to do so – from BBC’s Don’t Die Young presenter Alice Roberts
- hear from some of the top names in neuroscience
- be introduced to all varieties of neuroscience from molecular biology to cognitive psychology, plus applied and clinical research
- and, ultimately, enjoy a day celebrating the science of the brain.
Talks and poster sessions formed the mainstay of the program. There were 117 posters on display, representing a huge range of research projects being carried out in Bristol and Cardiff plus elsewhere in the UK. Delegates had the chance to vote for the best posters; many congratulations to those who won* the £300-worth of prizes.
Neuroscience Taboo was another memorable part of the program. Based on the boardgame of the same name, this interactive session was designed to enable delegates to meet lots of new people and find out about their research. It certainly generated plenty of conversation and, hopefully, plenty of potential collaborations too.
Further encouraging future collaboration was the launch of the BCNC Travel Prize Scheme. This scheme, open to all young neuroscientists at Bristol and Cardiff, gives the opportunity to turn ideas into real projects through the award of £1000 to fund visits to labs in the partner institution. See here for info on BCNC Travel Prizes.
Semir Zeki’s plenary lecture was a fitting finale to the day. Entitled ‘Back to the future and forward to the past in neuroscience’, Semir’s combination of personal anecdote, wise advice and witty presentation proved to be a highlight for many attending the day’s event.
So what about the plasticine?
For 160 people the day was not over yet; following on from the main program was the evening event, where conversation and conviviality over dinner was encouraged with a sci-art activity devised by Dr Lizzie Burns. Each table rose to the challenge of depicting ‘your amazing brain’ with aplomb, using a variety of art materials including glitter, pipecleaners, and the aforementioned plasticine, to produce laughter, lively competition, and wonderfully creative works of art.
Underlying all the taboo and playdough of course, was the serious aim to develop skills of young neuroscientists and foster links between people and their research. Meeting and talking, as is widely recognised, is often how the best science takes place. The Young Neuroscientists' Day thus represented major investment into the biomedical research community of the future.
All in all, a memorable day for everyone involved, and for neuroscience in the southwest.
Click for photos of main program and photos of evening event.
- Joint first: £75 each
- Shabnam Baig, Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol
- Emma Hendy, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol
- Equal third: £50 each
- Sheila Dargan, MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity, University of Bristol
- Dennis Gallagher, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
- Anna Kleineidam, HW-LINE, University of Bristol
Further information
Find full information on the Young Neuroscientists’ Day here.
Bristol Neuroscience - BN - was founded by the University of Bristol in 2003. It has since come to embody cross-departmental, theme based research, providing a template for other Universities and centres in the UK.
The broad aim of BN is to represent and promote all aspects of neuroscience in the University and across the local area, maintaining a supportive environment for effective research - from first principles through to advances in clinical care.
To find out about BN, join the mailing list, and get involved in events and activities, please explore the BN website (www.bris.ac.uk/neuroscience)
Point of contact: Dr Anne Cooke, email b-n@bristol.ac.uk
The Cardiff Neurosciences Centre (CNC), established in September 2007, is a virtual centre that aims to bring together the extensive neuroscience community of Cardiff University and the Cardiff Vale NHS trust.
Presently, the Schools of Medicine, Psychology and Biosciences are heavily involved in the CNC, with a significant amount of cross-school collaboration already in existence. Through the establishment of the CNC and the organisation of regular events, the interactions between researchers in the different areas of Neuroscience research will increase, helping to spark new ideas and foster interdisciplinary collaboration between schools.
Point of contact: Dr Vanessa Davies, email daviesvj@Cardiff.ac.uk
Bristol Cardiff Neuroscience Collaboration: Building bridges in neuroscience
The Young Neuroscientists’ Day is part of an ongoing program to encourage greater contact and collaboration between Cardiff and Bristol neuroscience communities, an initiative being advanced by the formation, in April 2006, of the Bristol Cardiff Neuroscience Collaboration, or BCNC.
Further BCNC activities include:
- Regular neuroscience email bulletins circulated round Cardiff & Bristol
- Formation of Focus Groups in key areas, e.g. Systems neuroscience
- BCNC Travel Prizes
- Visits to Cardiff imaging facilities, CUBRIC and EMRIC
- Appointment of Neuroscience Centre Manage at Cardiff to work with Neuroscience Research Facilitator at Bristol
- Exploring joint funding opportunities
And more! For further information, email b-n@bristol.ac.uk
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) is dedicated to and represents all aspects of neuroscience in the UK. Its main aims include: promote multidisciplinary study of the nervous system in health and disease; disseminate information to all those interested in neurosciences; advise on issues in neurosciences; increase public awareness; assist in the training of all those engaged in neuroscience teaching and research.
Dr Lizzie Burns has always combined a deep and active interest in science, art and teaching. Following a doctorate in Biochemistry followed by a postdoc she created her own unique niche as a science-based artist creating artwork inspired by the biological world. To find out more about ‘Bringing science to life’ through art with creative neuroscience events across the UK look at www.sciencetolife.org for information or get in touch with Lizzie: sciencetolife@yahoo.co.uk
