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91制片厂鈥檚 Randy Blakely, Ph.D., Receives National Science Educator Award

Neuroscience, 91制片厂 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Randy Blakely, National Award, Science Educator Award, Society for Neuroscience, Award

Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., 91制片厂鈥檚 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute executive director. (Photo by Alex Dolce)


By bethany alex | 11/15/2022

Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., 91制片厂鈥檚 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute executive director, recently received the Society for Neuroscience鈥檚 (SfN) 2022 Science Educator Award at the organization鈥檚 annual meeting in San Diego. The Science Educator Award celebrates top neuroscientists in the nation that devote their time to research while having made significant contributions in educating the public about neuroscience through outreach, policy and public educational activities for the benefit of the community.

聽As part of the recognition, Blakely was awarded $5,000 and complimentary travel, lodging and accommodations for SfN鈥檚 2022 meeting where five members of Blakely鈥檚 research group presented their most recent findings. The Science Educator Award is supported by the Dana Foundation, a private philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing neuroscience and society through multidisciplinary approaches.

鈥淚 am incredibly grateful to receive the Science Educator Award from the Society for Neuroscience. It truly is an honor,鈥 said Blakely. 鈥淏ut we are just beginning the evergreen journey to educate the lay community as to the promise and progress of brain research, work that can also inspire the next generation of neuroscientists, some just becoming aware of where a 鈥榣ife of the mind-brain鈥 continuum and its endless opportunity can take them. I am excited to witness the transfer of neuroscience research into community resources of broader value for youth and more mature audiences.鈥 聽聽聽

Blakely 鈥 an internationally renowned neuroscientist and leading expert in brain neurochemistry, pharmacology and molecular neuroscience 鈥 came to 91制片厂 in the spring of 2016 as the founding executive director for the university鈥檚 neuroscience research institute, a strategic investment in cutting edge brain science and education across colleges and departments. Since the institute鈥檚 inception, Blakely has spearheaded the development of 91制片厂 as a top-tier research, education and outreach center in South Florida. One example of these activities is the recently initiated 91制片厂 Neuroscience Graduate Program, becoming only the second program in the state of Florida to award Ph.D. degrees in neuroscience. Blakely holds the David J.S. Nicholson Distinguished Professorship in Neuroscience 鈥 a position that also honors both his significant contributions to brain science and his dedication to engaging the community in the wonders of discovery in STEM education.

鈥淒r. Blakely is a truly inspirational academic leader with a聽resume full of groundbreaking scientific discoveries, as well as a passion for sharing his knowledge with our community and nurturing the next generation of neuroscientists,鈥澛爏aid 91制片厂 President John Kelly.聽鈥淒r. Blakely鈥檚 vision is helping Florida Atlantic become a聽leader in neurological and mental health research and education, and I am delighted that his accomplishments were recognized with the well-deserved Science Educator Award.鈥

As part of the major accomplishments in creating community outreach programs and initiatives dedicated to expanding the public鈥檚 knowledge of neuroscience and reducing the stigma of mental illness, Blakely is credited with launching the institute鈥檚 ASCEND (Advancing STEM: Community Engagement Through Neuroscience Discovery) program at 91制片厂. ASCEND, funded by the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, is an innovative program addressing the national shortage of middle and high school students studying science, technology, engineering and math through scientists-led mentoring and educational activities in Palm Beach County.

Additionally, Blakely is credited for developing 鈥淏rainy Days,鈥 91制片厂鈥檚 monthlong celebration of the neuroscience initiative. 鈥淏rainy Days鈥 is designed to supplement the recognition of national Brain Awareness Week (celebrated annually during the second week of March), through creative community programs that pull back the curtain on the mysteries of the mind and promote brain health and education, and is sponsored annually by the Palm Health Foundation 鈥 Palm Beach County鈥檚 community foundation for health. Blakely also notes the key role played by Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., director of community engagement and programming, 91制片厂 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, and research assistant professor, 91制片厂 Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, and her team in moving both ASCEND and 鈥淏rainy Days鈥 to realization.

Blakely also has fostered relationships with integral community partners to inspire neuroscience in the community. Most notably is the partnership with the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach where Blakely serves as the lead scientific advisor for 91制片厂 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute鈥檚 permanent exhibit, 鈥淛ourney Through the Human Brain,鈥 which has served more than 500,000 children and adults with engaging, interactive and tech-savvy installations. Previously, while serving as the director of the Vanderbilt University/NIMH Silvio Conte Center for Neuroscience Research, Blakely developed the interactive brain exhibit 鈥淏rain Matters鈥 located at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks. The exhibit offered the public an interactive experience to engage with state-of-the-art technologies depicting current neuroscience research and its contributions to mental health and well-being.

鈥淭he ultimate goal is to bring both basic neuroscience research and solution-oriented brain science efforts to society,鈥 said Blakely. 鈥淲e often find that researchers limit their activities to what moves through their laboratory but that just isn鈥檛 enough in a world where neurogenerative disease and mental illness is at the forefront of our communities 鈥 still stigmatized, particularly for mental illness. We need to continue growing a more humane and scientifically literate society, erasing the stigma that all too often shadows those with brain disorders.鈥

An official statement released from SfN said that the Science Educator Award is one recognition among many others received by Blakely and is 鈥渁 testament to his commitment to reaching and training individuals from underrepresented and underserved groups 鈥 [the award highlights] his passionate commitment to training, mentoring, and outreach [that] has inspired both the next generation of neuroscientists and the community at large.鈥

To learn more about the Society for Neuroscience, visit .

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