The Brain Network Dynamics Unit held its Autumn Science Day on 19th September 2025, bringing together Unit members and guests to highlight recent discoveries and exchange ideas, and reflect on priorities for the year ahead.

Presentations from the Unit’s early-career researchers showcased emerging research across the breadth of the Unit’s scientific themes, from fundamental questions about neural dynamics, learning and behaviour to the development of new approaches for understanding and treating brain disorders. The programme was complemented by a lively poster session, with 14 posters providing further opportunities to share work in progress, gather feedback and spark new collaborations.

The day also featured two keynote lectures. Dr Luke Bashford from Newcastle University explored how implanted brain-computer interfaces can be used to investigate neural dynamics underlying human cognition, while Professor Megan Carey from the Champalimaud Center for the Unknown discussed how coordinated neural activity in the cerebellum supports behaviour.

It was also an opportunity to highlight individual contributions to the Unit’s research culture, with the announcement of the winners of the Director’s Award for Open Research (Dr Natalie Doig and Professor Helen Barron), and the Director’s Award for Public Engagement (Meetali Dayabhai and Dr Polytimi Frangou). An additional Director’s Award for Open Research was given to Callum from Olamalu for his work developing the Unit’s data sharing platform- the first time this award has been made to an individual outside of the Unit.

Science Days provide an important forum to share unpublished research findings and to develop ideas through discussion across research groups and disciplines. This meeting highlighted both the breadth of research underway at the Unit and the collaborative approaches being used to better understand brain function and translate new knowledge into future technologies and treatments.