The 2025 Annual Theme is Neuropolitics!
What is Neuropolitics? The Dana Foundation Career Network in Neuroscience & Society defines Neuropolitics as “a field of study that combines neuroscience and political science in order to better understand the decision-making process involved in political behavior and political decision-making. Why do we vote the way we vote? Why are current political systems structured the way they are? How does the way our brain processes information influence our political attitudes and beliefs?”
“Neuroscientists are impacted by politics at all stages of their career, whether it’s within the academic institution or in their personal lives. Neuropolitics was selected as the Annual Theme at the 2024 National Meeting, only weeks before the U.S. election. For the 2025-2026 Academic Year, the Society wanted to focus on the importance of understanding political decision making, and its direct and indirect impacts on perception, mental health, fear, survival responses, bias, funding, and the fabric of the institutions, communities, and world to which we belong.
We hope that, by analyzing the intersection of neuroscience and political science, members will feel empowered to utilize their unique strengths, interests, and understandings of Neuropolitics to (a) apply and disseminate information to the broader contexts of societies & structures they are part of, (b) get involved and enact change at the local, state, and federal levels in the ways that are meaningful to them, and (c) strengthen the importance of scientific communication and its various intersections.”
Sincerely,
Your 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Nu Rho Psi National Councils
Chapter Guidance
Chapters may consider exploring programming that involves (a) neuroscience and mental health at the intersection of politics, public policy, and advocacy, (b) the neuroscience subspecialties of Neuropolitics, Neurolaw, and Neurosociology with a focus on political structures, political framework analysis, AND/OR (c) ways to advocate for neuroscience and mental health research, resources, and support at the local, state, and federal levels.
Ideas for chapter programming
- Watch a lecture from UCI’s Center for Neuropolitics, and discuss as a group: https://sites.uci.edu/centerforneuropolitics/
- Host a book or journal club around Neuropolitics
- Your Brain is Built for Politics – TEDx Talk by Dr. Dan Schreiber: https://youtu.be/Ati0x7x3T40?si=7h3QTK0ldY46ZapP
- Browse the Neuroethics Today website and find a piece of media of interest to discuss: https://www.neuroethicstoday.com/
- Browse Dana’s Network x Society page on Neuroethics: https://neuroxcareers.org/neuropolitics/
- Find media/resources from the above sub-specialties and organize a watch party/engagement meeting.
- Co-host an event with on-campus clubs in political science, sociology, ethics, and law.
The Society encourages accompanying programming with political analysis – we recommend Haymarket Books for a plethora of books and topics based in different aspects of political analysis.
If students are interested in further pursuing public policy or directly engaging in the political sphere, the Society encourages students to (a) utilize their institution’s course catalog to take a course in political science, public policy, or additional electives of interest, or (b) pursue internships and opportunities with your institution or with local, state, or federal policymakers, including student government opportunities.
Download our Neuropolitics Guide:
Never heard of Neuropolitics? Attend our Annual Meeting on November 2nd for an exciting keynote lecture by neuropolitical scholar, Dr. Liya Yu, and find out what neuropolitics is in practice from somebody in the field! Registration link
