Charting Progress in Public Engagement with Science

With the start of every new year comes an opportunity to take stock of the previous one. Looking back on 2024, I am so proud of the progress we made at the Dana Foundation in our mission to advance neuroscience that benefits society and reflects the aspirations of all people. The launch of the Dana Center Initiative, in collaboration with our many partners, helped to reimagine not only how to build the field, but also how to strengthen the connection between lab research and the people it can benefit. The initiative came at a particularly relevant time, as rapid advancements in innovation are colliding with changes in the information environment, raising concerns about public health and the future of science—and also renewing calls for public engagement.

A survey developed by Research!America reinforced the need for public engagement, showing that more than 80 percent of Americans are affected by brain health issues, yet 66% report that they have little or no knowledge about brain health research. The survey also found that Americans have high levels of trust for doctors, researchers, and health professionals, suggesting an important gateway for effective public engagement.

While training at the graduate level provides rigorous education in research methodologies, it offers little on communicating effectively with the public. And though our own research at the Dana Foundation shows there is a strong desire among scholars to learn, they have historically lacked access to the resources, opportunities, and financial support required to pursue professional development in this area.

Recognizing the strong need to address this gap, the Dana Foundation recently joined forces with Research!America, the Lasker Foundation, and Rita Allen Foundation to embed civic science training into graduate STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) education. Together we developed recommendations for equipping the next generation of scientists with the tools and confidence they need to engage meaningfully.

In 2025, the Dana Foundation is proud to support our recommendations with new funding for Research!America’s Public Engagement Training Content Microgrant Program. Our support builds on early contributions from the Lasker Foundation to develop an open-access curriculum that equips graduate students to integrate public engagement into academic work—from partnering with community organizations to designing interactive workshops or crafting digital content that translates complex neuroscience into accessible insights.

The Dana-supported microgrants will fund a range of projects launching this year, including the development of an online training module and website to guide faculty and staff in best practices for brain donation (UC Irvine). Another program at the University of Utah will involve the launch of a neuroscience communication hackathon, where STEMM graduate students will collaborate to create public engagement materials, with winning projects added to an open-access science communication toolkit for widespread use.

As the Dana Foundation welcomes 2025, I am energized by the transformative potential of the microgrants program to reshape STEMM education. This bold initiative addresses a systemic gap in public engagement training, offering practical, actionable solutions tailored to the needs of neuroscience practitioners eager to enhance their outreach skills. Grounded in empathy and collaboration, it brings together neuroscience and society scholars to develop professional content that bridges these fields. And it reflects the Foundation’s steadfast commitment to diversity by equipping neuroscience scholars to create meaningful connections with people from all walks of life.

It is integral to building the trust and understanding that are foundational to ethical scientific progress, ensuring that innovations are embraced with confidence rather than skepticism or fear.

In our vision for the future, public engagement will stand alongside experimental research as a pillar of graduate education and a cornerstone of scientific practice. Until then, we look forward to reporting on our progress and unveiling new initiatives that help forge an advanced model of science—one that is rigorous, inclusive, transparent, and deeply rooted in the communities it serves.

On behalf of the entire Dana Foundation team, wishing everyone a very happy New Year!