Brain and Society at Rice University: Building science that connects to policy and community
Brain and society research at Rice studies the human brain in the context of complex real-world environments and connects neuroscience research with public policy, economics, management science, and ethics. By studying brain health in the everyday world, as it intersects with social systems, our researchers work to build more equitable and compassionate approaches to care, education, productivity, and well-being.
Our brains are our greatest asset, allowing us to pay attention, make decisions, regulate our emotions, speak and read, and create and understand the world around us. But diseases and disorders of the brain rob us of these vital skills. Brain and society research focuses on such questions as: How do these brain skills arise from the structure and function of the nervous system? Why do these brain skills sometimes fail us? How do societal forces influence the development and maintenance of these brain skills? How do societal forces contribute to the loss of these brain skills? Can we manipulate brain structure/function to reduce the impact of disease and disorders of the brain? Can we manipulate social structures (policy, education, business, built environment, community) to reduce the impact of disease and disorders of the brain?
The Brain and Society Initiative will coordinate research across campus focused on (1) social, cognitive, and affective neuroscience (2) studying human brains and behaviors in the context of key aspects of human life and (3) developing and evaluating brain-inspired policy. By pulling together these strands of research, it will generate new impact-focused collaborative research projects designed to improve people’s lives. It will also develop new approaches for neuroscience research to impact society through the Brain Economy Program.
The Brain and Society Initiative works from local to global scales. Through Project Metis, in partnership with the Center for Houston's Future, Rice is helping position the Houston region as a global leader in lifelong brain health and the emerging brain economy. Through the Brain Economy Program and the Global Brain Economy Initiative, Rice works with governments, industry, philanthropies, international organizations, and academic partners to elevate brain health and brain skills as global economic priorities, including through collaborations with the World Economic Forum. By connecting neuroscience with public policy, innovation, and economic development, the Brain and Society Initiative continues to advance new ways of translating neuroscience into meaningful societal impact.