The Neuron Award brought them recognition and new projects

The Neuron Foundation invited laureates, scientific council guarantors and patrons to the Opero centre. The informal gathering, which preceded the debate with the Neuron Award 2022 laureates, was opened by the chair of the board Monika Vondráková and the chair of the scientific council, Prof. Jan Konvalinka.

In a small circle the laureates recalled their scientific stories and emphasised how the Neuron Award had entered their personal and professional lives.

The scientists confided that the prestigious award means media interest, which they can use to promote their field or their institution. It also means contact with new colleagues, who bring Neuron Award laureates into their projects or ask them for advice. The Neuron Award also makes it easier to recruit students into research groups, and strengthens a laureate's position at their institution.

Many laureates agreed that the Neuron Award matters to them as personal vindication too — their relatives and friends outside science understood what work they do and that it is important for society as a whole.