Every year, the ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize is awarded to a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to promoting equality and diversity in the brain sciences. This year the prize, jointly presented by the ALBA Network and the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence (FKNE), with the support of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), has been presented to Professor Aikaterini Fotopoulou. Professor Fotopoulou was presented the award in recognition of her contributions to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in brain research.

Aikaterini Fotopoulou is Professor in Psychodynamic Neuroscience in the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology within the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences. She has been awarded the prize in recognition of her sustained leadership and transformative contributions to advancing EDI in neuroscience research, training, and academic culture. Her work spans the development of inclusive research infrastructures, mentorship of diverse early-career researchers, and institutional change across national and international scientific communities. 

In 2022, she founded the Centre for Equality Research in Brain Sciences (ERB) at UCL – the first centre of its kind globally. The ERB Centre is internationally recognised for its pioneering work in improving both the content and culture of neuroscientific research. With over 15 commissioned research projects addressing topics such as racial and ethnic disparities in education, accessibility in neuroimaging, and participatory research with neurodivergent populations, the Centre is a model of how inclusive research can directly contribute to better health outcomes and more representative science.

Prof. Fotopoulou has had a lasting impact on mentoring and career development, particularly for women and researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. She founded and coordinated the ‘World of Work (WoW) Mentor’ scheme, through which over 90 early-career neuroscientists were mentored, achieving outstanding satisfaction and replication of the scheme across multiple institutions. As Gender Equity Lead in her Faculty at UCL, she has also guided six divisional committees in achieving significant improvements in gender and intersectional representation via the Athena Swan framework. She has also supported scholars from resourcelimited countries via Commonwealth Scholarships and CIFAR fellowships and contributed to citywide mentoring initiatives such as ‘B-Mentor,’ aimed at supporting Black and ethnic minority academics in London.

In her current role as President of the European Society for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (ESCAN), Prof. Fotopoulou has embedded EDI principles into the society’s core operations. ESCAN has aligned its values with the ALBA Declaration on Equity and Inclusion, adopted a comprehensive EDI code of practice, offers carer travel awards to support conference participation, and actively champions diversity in speaker representation and award selection.

 

I am most honoured to receive this prestigious prize, particularly as this moment of recognition belongs also to all my committed colleagues at UCL. The prize recognises our shared belief that EDI research is not only a moral imperative; it is a key contributor to the improvement of neuroscientific knowledge and culture, as well as an opportunity to improve physical and mental health outcomes for all.

Professor Aikaterini Fotopoulou

Division of Psychology and Language Sciences

With the Diversity Prize, the ALBA Network and the FENS-Kavli Scholars aim to recognise leaders and role models who drive the full integration of all scientists at every career stage. This annual award honours individuals whose efforts – through advocacy, mentorship, or diversity-focused initiatives – have significantly contributed to this mission.

Professor Francesca Cirulli

Chair of the ALBA network

Prof. Fotopoulou has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing equitable practices in science through both her research and institutional leadership. Her innovative and systemic approach to embedding EDI into the fabric of neuroscience sets new benchmarks for the field.

Dr Andrew Lin

Chair of the ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize Selection Committee

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This news article was first published by the ALBA Network

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