The International Neuroethics Society (INS) and the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) are pleased to announce a call for submissions for the Neuroethics Essay Contest. The Neuroethics Essay Contest encourages students and trainees to examine the ethical concerns in research, law, and policy related to the mind and brain. Four submission categories are available:
Authors of winning submissions — a total of four (4) with one from each category — will receive a $500 prize. Authors with honorable mention submissions — which may be up to eight (8) from across the four categories — will receive a $250 prize.
All authors with a winning and honorable mention essay are also eligible to receive:
- A 1-year INS student membership ($15-30 value),
- A registration waiver to the next INS Annual Meeting ($150-200 value), and
- A travel stipend to attend the next INS Annual Meeting in-person ($500-1,500 value).
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
- Submissions are due in early July
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- Participation in the contest is open to any student in high school or secondary school student, any post-secondary student, and any postdoctoral fellow or similar early career trainee from anywhere in the world. Students must be currently enrolled in school, accepted to a program for a future term, or preparing to apply to graduate programs.
- Students in high school or an equivalent secondary school program during the spring semester of the contest year must submit their essays to the IYNA-INS High School Neuroethics category.
- Applicants included in the definition of ‘post-secondary student’ or ‘early career trainees’ during the spring semester of the contest year may submit an essay to either the Academic or General Audience categories. Authors may submit two different essays — one to each category.
Deadline
- July 7
Application or Entry Requirements
- Essay submissions can cover any topic in neuroethics and should address a focused problem at the intersections of the mind and brain sciences, ethics, and law. Example topics include, but are not limited to: neuroenhancement, neurolaw, neurology, moral psychology, moral philosophy, neuro/brain stimulation, ethics of neurodegenerative illness, neurogenetics, neurotechnology policy and regulation, philosophy of mind, clinical ethics in psychiatry and neurosurgery, neural imaging, big data and neuroscience, brain–computer interaction, military applications of neurotechnology, and free will.
- Submissions to the High School competition should explore the relationship between ethics, neuroscience, and society in plain language for the general public. Essays should be based on reliable primary and secondary sources — Wikipedia and similar sources are not acceptable.
- Essays must be written in English by a single author enrolled in high school or an equivalent secondary school. Essay length may not exceed 1,000 words. An abstract and references do not count toward the total word count.
- Essays are submitted through an online form found here.
Notifications of Decisions
- Winners will be notified in November
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The International Neuroethics Society (INS) is a organization dedicated to exploring the ethical, legal, and societal implications of neuroscience and neurotechnology. Established in 2006, the INS serves as a global platform for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to engage in dialogue, share insights, and collaborate on issues at the intersection of neuroscience and ethics. Through conferences, publications, and educational initiatives, the society addresses a wide range of topics, including cognitive enhancement, brain privacy, neurodiversity, and the ethical use of emerging neurotechnologies.
