Virtual Seminar: Responsible Communication of Brain Research, Neurotechnology, and Neuroethics: From Challenges to Solutions by Katherine Bassil
Join us online for this virtual Seminar
This seminar highlights the critical need for responsible communication of neuroscience and neurotechnology, ensuring that scientific advancements are conveyed transparently and ethically. It will explore the importance of making neuroethics topics accessible to a wider public, raising awareness of the ethical, legal, and societal implications of brain research. By addressing challenges such as misinformation, public engagement, and ethical dilemmas, the seminar will provide strategies for effectively communicating complex neuroethical issues in an inclusive and responsible manner.
Dr. Katherine Bassil is an Assistant Professor at the Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU) in the Netherlands, where she conducts research in neuroethics. She is also a Niels Stensen Fellow at the Technical University of Munich(TUM), focusing on the ethical implications of large language models in brain and mental health care.
Dr. Bassil’s research focuses on the ethical and social implications of neuroscience research and neurotechnologies. Her work explores the implications of neuroscientific models, invasive neurotechnologies, digital mental health tools, public participation in research, science and ethics communication, and digital phenotyping.
Beyond her research, Dr. Bassil is deeply engaged in science policy and public outreach. She is an active member of the International Neuroethics Society(INS), serving on the Outreach and Engagement Committee and Program Committee, and co-leading the public communication Affinity Group. She is also an editorial assistant at Neuroethics Canada where she assisted in the editing of several volumes in the series Developments in Neuroethics and Bioethics. Bassil is the ethics lead for the IEEE Neuroethics Framework Wellness Workgroup. Additionally, she contributes to global neuroethics initiatives as a member of the International Brain Initiative (IBI) Cross-cultural Working Group, and as the Research Ethics track lead at the Atlas Bioethics Center.
Dr. Bassil was awarded the 2022-2023 Harvard Neuroethics Fellowship, where she contributed to discussions on the ethics of predictive biomarkers for post-traumatic stress disorder. She is also the founder of Neuroethics Today, an educational platform dedicated to raising awareness on neuroethics worldwide and democratizing neuroethics literacy.