The DANA program for Neuroscience and Society has announced the winners of its nation-wide neuroscience journalism contest. Four jurors from neuroscience and journalism departments, including one journalism student, determined which one of the 18 submissions was the most deserving. 

The winner of the first prize and the accompanying $1000 award was Sophia Martinez whose article entitled The Silent Pandemic: How Loneliness is Rewiring Aging Brains  explored the detrimental neurological effects of loneliness in older adults.

Martinez is a junior at the University of South Florida, majoring in biomedical sciences. Her experience as a caregiver for seniors with Alzheimer's disease inspired her commitment to public health advocacy for patients and their families affected by dementia. She hopes to continue volunteering, writing and pursuing research in the field to improve scientific understanding of dementia and patient care.

Runner-up and winner of a $750 award was Tiffany Chan, an undergraduate at Rutgers University–Camden, for her piece on how school's disciplinary practices risk further set back those children who are already negatively affected by trauma. 

Chan aspires to become a neuroscientist with a focus on neuromodulation and neurodegenerative diseases. Beyond her research interests, she is passionate about expanding trauma awareness in academic settings and creating more equitable opportunities in science and education.

The third place award and $500 went to  Brown University applied math and cognitive science student Jeffrey Mu, for a story he wrote for the Brown Daily Herald. In it, Mu reports on new research conducted at his university exploring the workings of our memory.  Mu has previously attended the Iowa Young Writers' Studio and the Kenyon Young Writers Workshop and is originally from the Bay Area, where he can be found taking photos and enjoying calm weather.

On October 16, the winners will accept their awards at Loyola University.