Awards and Highlights

Since its inception in 2008, our chapter has had some notable achievements. These include lobbying for Neuroscience funding on Capitol Hill with Senate Majority Leader and Senator from Nevada, Harry Reid, and his staff in 2010 (for details, click the button on the right), receiving the prestigious "Next Generation Award," from the Society for Neuroscience to Dr. Amy Altick in 2012, and to Taissa Lytchenko in 2020, the visit and seminar by Nobel Laureate Dr. Thomas Sudhof from Stanford in 2013, and the Third Prize National Brain Bee award to Valentina Lorenzo, exchange high school student from Las Vegas in 2014. For details, please click the buttons on the right.

2020 SFN Award

Taissa Lytchenko Receives the Next Generation Award for Excellence in Outreach and Education

Taissa Lytchenko, a third-year graduate student in the College of Science's Cognitive Brain Sciences program, has been awarded the Next Generation Award. The announcement was made on October 30th, 2020, during a virtual award ceremony by Dr. Barry Everitt, the President of SfN: See Award Ceremony.

The Next Generation Award honors chapter members who have made outstanding contributions to public communication, outreach and education about neuroscience.

Taissa has been organizing not only numerous brain awareness outreach activities, but she is also providing programs for summer camps for K-12 students, running workshops for teachers and STEM fairs for elementary and middle schools, and visiting juvenile detention centers as well as adult jails. She also is engaged in the "Frontiers for Young Minds" science reviewer project.

The Society for Neuroscience, with about 160 chapters worldwide, recognized Lytchenko for her efforts in neuroscience education and public outreach by awarding her the 2020 Next Generation Award. The award honors outstanding individuals or teams with a $300 honorarium and the recipient's chapter receives $2,000 to continue outreach efforts in the coming year.

Read the full Nevada Today Article about Taissa Lytchenko's work that earned her the Next Generation Award.

2014 Brain Bee Award

Valentina Lorenzi from Las Vegas, Nevada, wins 3rd place in USA National Brain Bee Competition

Exchange high school student Valentina Lorenzo from Bonanza High School, Las Vegas, won the 3rd place in the National Brain Bee Competition. Valentina, originally from Milan, Italy, represented the state of Nevada in the national competition, held at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Congratulations, Valentina!  See more at the International Brain Bee website.

2013 Nobel Laureate

Nobel Laureate Dr. Thomas Südhof Presented a Seminar to Students and Faculty

Our chapter invited Dr. Thomas Südhof to speak to students and faculty in 2013 as part of the Society for Neuroscience's "Distinguished Traveling Scientist Program." Dr. Südhof presented his seminar "Synaptic membrane traffic - from molecules to memory" on March 29, 2013. Later that year, Dr. Südhof was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Dr. Südhof is seen here speaking with Amy Altick, Patricia Berninsone, and Ruben Dagda.

2012 SFN Award

Dr. Amy Altick Receives the Next Generation Award for Organizing Brain Awareness Week Events

Dr. Amy Altick, currently Biology Lecturer in the College of Science at the University of Nevada, Reno, directs a neuroscience outreach program throughout the state of Nevada as part of National Brain Awareness Week. With help from members of our Chapter, she gives the community a chance to learn about the brain and how it works, with hands-on experience that includes being able to see and touch a real human brain.

The Society for Neuroscience, with about 150 chapters worldwide, recognized Altick for her efforts in neuroscience education and public outreach by awarding her the 2012 Next Generation Award. The award honors outstanding individuals or teams with a $300 honorarium and a $750 travel award to attend the Society's annual meeting. Additionally, the recipient's chapter receives $2,000 to continue outreach efforts in the coming year."

Read the full Nevada Today Article about Dr. Altick's work and her Next Generation Award.

Read more information about Dr. Altick at This is Reno website.

2010 Capitol Hill

Chapter President, Christopher von Bartheld, Discusses Neuroscience Funding with the Leader of the US Senate, Harry Reid

Dr. Christopher von Bartheld, Founder and President of our Chapter, was invited by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) to lobby and discuss Neuroscience research and funding with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The meeting with "The Speaker," Harry Reid (Nevada's Senator), and his staff took place on the day following the historic vote in the Senate on "Obamacare."