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. It works with the Center for Houston’s Future on their Brain Economy Initiative on how brain health and brain health research is a regional economic driver. It works to elevate brain health as a global economic priority through collaborations with many partners, including the World Economic Forum. In March, the Brain and Society initiative will host on campus De Lange Conference XIV: “Brains in Society: Preparing for Neuroscience’s Impact on Our Everyday Lives” bringing together scientists, engineers, humanists, and artists to discuss the pathways between neuroscience discovery and societal change. Through the Brain and Society initiative, Rice is at the center of new ways of thinking about how to ensure that neuroscience realizes the potential of its broader impacts.