UC Irvine’s Manuella Oliveira Yassa Receives National Science Educator Award from the Society for Neuroscience

Manuella Yassa

IRVINE, Calif. — The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has selected Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Director of Outreach and Education at the UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM), as one of two recipients of the 2025 Science Educator Award, supported by the Allen Institute. The award recognizes neuroscientists who have made outstanding contributions to public neuroscience education and engagement.

Each year, the Science Educator Award honors up to two individuals, one who works full-time in education and one whose primary appointment is in research while also contributing significantly to outreach and science communication. Recipients receive a $5,000 honorarium, an invitation to author a commentary in eNeuro, and recognition during the Presidential Special Lecture at SfN’s Annual Meeting.

Oliveira Yassa joins an esteemed list of past recipients, including public neuroscience figures such as Dr. David Eagleman, Dr. Adam Gazzaley, and Dr. Paula Croxson. She will be honored at the SfN Annual Meeting in San Diego on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, during the Presidential Special Lecture at 5:30 p.m. in Ballroom 20 of the San Diego Convention Center.

Building a Neuroscience Education Ecosystem
Since joining UC Irvine, Oliveira Yassa has built a nationally recognized neuroscience education ecosystem that connects learners of all ages with authentic scientific experiences. She founded the CNLM Office of Outreach and Education and has led the creation of flagship programs that now serve as national models for neuroscience engagement. Her programs have been funded by the Dana Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health, as well as by generous private philanthropic support.

manuella yassa skulls

Some of her initiatives include:

  • UCI Brain Camp, a two-week summer program that introduces middle and high school students to neuroscience through hands-on experiments, lab tours, and mentorship.
  • The Irvine Brain Bee, a regional neuroscience competition that prepares high school students for the USA Brain Bee, where Oliveira Yassa now serves as National Director
  • The Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience, an immersive residential research and professional development experience for college students across the country, funded by the National Science Foundation and the UC Office of the President
  • The Southern California Youth Neuroscience Association (SCYNA), a student-led organization co-founded with alumna Nikhita Kaushik that empowers high school students to lead outreach in their communities
  • The CNLM Ambassador Program, a community of more than 100 UCI graduate students, undergraduates, postdocs, and staff trained to lead peers and engage the public in neuroscience education and communication
  • The Brain Explorer Academy, an after-school program that engages high schoolers in hands-on neuroscience training.

Oliveira Yassa also serves on national advisory boards focused on inclusive neuroscience education and has led efforts to evaluate the measurable impact of science outreach on student learning, attitudes, and career pathways.

manuella yassa brain

A Vision for Inclusive and Measurable Science Engagement
Oliveira Yassa’s approach is grounded in the belief that science outreach should be treated with the same rigor as scientific research. Through her NeuroEngage Lab at UC Irvine, she is pioneering new ways to design, evaluate, and scale neuroscience education programs using data-driven frameworks. Her work bridges the gap between research and practice, examining not only what engages the public in neuroscience, but why it works and how it leads to sustained change.

By combining principles from neuroscience, education, and social ecology, Oliveira Yassa and her team study the measurable impact of outreach programs on knowledge, attitudes, and pathways into science. The NeuroEngage Lab also serves as a collaborative hub for faculty, trainees, and community partners who share a vision for inclusive, evidence-based science engagement. Together, they are transforming how we think about public science education, making neuroscience not just accessible, but meaningful and measurable.

 

About the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) at UC Irvine is a world leader in brain research and education. The CNLM’s Office of Outreach and Education connects scientists and communities to promote lifelong learning and discovery about the brain through innovative programs, community partnerships, and public events.

About the Society for Neuroscience
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is the world’s largest organization of scientists and clinicians devoted to understanding the brain and nervous system, representing nearly 30,000 members worldwide.

For more information about participating in and supporting this work, visit neuroengagelab.com.

Media contact:
UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Email: explorethebrain@uci.edu | Phone: 949-824-5193