19/09/24
The CDN’s Professor Laura Andreae has received the prestigious Louise Hanson Marshall Special Recognition Award for her work promoting women in neuroscience. The Award honours individuals who have significantly promoted the professional development of women in neuroscience through teaching, organisational leadership, public advocacy, or other efforts. The Society for Neuroscience award includes travel to their annual meeting in the USA.
Beyond her research achievements, Laura Andreae was pivotal in establishing infrastructure to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in neuroscience internationally. Upon joining the ALBA Network in 2020, a global initiative that promotes equity and diversity in neuroscience, Laura helped to develop the ALBA Declaration of Equity and Inclusion. As a member of ALBA’s leadership team since 2021, and as chair 2022–2023, Laura has contributed to initiatives such as travel grants for those in low-income countries, diversity training, and data collection on DEI-relevant issues. Her position in SfN’s Diversity and Inclusion working group from 2020–22 enhanced speaker diversity at SfN events. Back here in the UK, Laura has been equally active. She was instrumental in creating the British Neuroscience Association’s Scholars Program which provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial support to students and early career researchers from ethnic groups under-represented in neuroscience.
Here at King’s, Laura is the Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders' MRC-ITND PhD programme director and under her leadership, the MRes component was awarded a Programme Excellence Award. The award panel noted Laura’s proactivity in both her local community and internationally and how it has impacted individual career trajectories and systemic policy. Laura’s thoughtful attention to all steps — from student admission to retention, and eventual success as an independent researcher — ensures that improved diversity at the early career level will be reflected in future neuroscience leaders. More information about the Society for Neuroscience’s awards can be found on their website.
