Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Continue' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The 12 winners of the inaugural University of Oxford's Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Public Engagement with Research were announced on Friday 1 July by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Louise Richardson, in a ceremony at Merton College.

Dr Chrystalina Antoniades won an award in the Early Career Researcher Category. Her research involves using visual perception to study neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.

Taking part in these activities has given me a different perspective on my research and helped me understand better how it relates to the lives of the wider public. 
- Dr Chrystalina Antoniades

She has developed a collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum, and most recently organised a 'Brain Hunt' for Brain Awareness Week 2016. This was a four-day event reaching a total audience of over 1500 people.

As well as talks, the programme included interactive activities for children and adults such as making plasticine brains with different coloured areas encouraging people to think about how different brain regions have different roles in perception.

Chrystalina has also supported the development of a culture of public engagement with research in our Department, organising workshops and playing an instrumental role in the setting up of small public engagement awards to support other early career researchers.

Similar stories

Brain immune cells protect neurons in Parkinson’s disease by “nibbling” harmful material

New research, published in Science Translational Medicine, reveals how a specialised population of the brain’s immune cells can remove harmful protein clumps from nerve cells (neurons), pointing to potential new treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

Meeting the neuroscientists at Meeting Minds

Ben Seymour and Masud Husain joined the line up of speakers at this year's Meeting Minds event for Oxford alumni on 19 September

MSc Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience Prizes announced, class of 2025/26

Congratulations to all those who have successfully completed the MSc in Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience.

Oxford researchers uncover how Parkinson's disease protein damages brain cells

A new study reveals a key mechanism by which the protein alpha-synuclein, the hallmark of Parkinson's disease, damages neurons (brain cells) by blocking a vital cellular gateway. The results of the study, published in Nature Communications, help to explain how the disease begins and highlights a potential new target for treatment.

Silver award for the NDCN Green Impact team

Congratulations to the NDCN Green Impact team who have earned a silver award for their work to improve sustainability within the department.

Celebrating NDCN at Thomas Willis Day 2026

Our annual event where we join together to celebrate our people and the work of our Department over the last year. Nearly 250 staff and students came together for this year's event on Tuesday 16 June at the Mathematical Institute.