Outreach

Recent articles

Photograph of the BRIDGE team and students visiting a laboratory.

Sharing Africa’s brain data: Q&A with Amadi Ihunwo

These data are “virtually mandatory” to advance neuroscience, says Ihunwo, a co-investigator of the Brain Research International Data Governance & Exchange (BRIDGE) initiative, which seeks to develop a global framework for sharing, using and protecting neuroscience data.

By Lauren Schenkman
20 May 2025 | 6 min read
Illustration of a scientist reaching toward a shelf of beakers in the shape of a speech bubble.

How to communicate the value of curiosity-driven research

The burden of proof is on us—researchers—to explain why what we do is valuable to society.

By Anthony Zador
4 March 2025 | 5 min read
Illustration of clinicians, a pill bottle, a speech bubble and shadowy figures.

Neuroscientists need to do better at explaining basic mental health research

The knowledge gap between scientists, health-care professionals, policymakers and people with mental health conditions is growing, slowing the translation of basic science to new treatments. Like lawyers learning to present a case to the court, scientists should learn to educate nonscientists about their findings.

By Omar Abubaker, Karla Kaun, Eric J. Nestler
21 January 2025 | 7 min read
A disembodied arm holds a megaphone.

In your New Year’s resolutions for 2025, consider public outreach

If every person in the neuroscience community committed to doing one thing, imagine the cumulative difference it would make.

By Nicole Rust
3 January 2025 | 8 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

This paper changed my life: Victoria Abraira on a tasty link between circuits and behavior

The findings from Charles Zuker’s lab put the taste system on the map, revealing that some fundamental principles of behavior are hardwired.

By Victoria Abraira
22 July 2025 | 5 min listen
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Neurophysiologic distinction between autism and schizophrenia; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 21 July.

By Jill Adams
22 July 2025 | 1 min read
Computer-generated illustration of a brain in a broken jar.

Breaking the jar: Why NeuroAI needs embodiment

Brain function is inexorably shaped by the body. Embracing this fact will benefit computational models of real brain function, as well as the design of artificial neural networks.

By Bing Wen Brunton, John Tuthill
21 July 2025 | 11 min listen