The Neuroethics Essay Contest is an annual international writing competition that invites students and early-career researchers to critically explore issues at the intersection of ethics, neuroscience, and society. Co-hosted by the International Neuroethics Society (INS) and the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA), the contest has four entry categories to accommodate participants from high school through postdoctoral level.
Four competition categories:
| Category | Eligible participants | Word/length limit | Prize | |---|---|---|---| | High School | High school / secondary school students | ≤ 1,000 words | Up to $500 | | General Audience | Post-secondary students / early-career trainees | ≤ 1,000 words | Up to $500 | | Academic | Post-secondary students / early-career trainees | ≤ 2,000 words | Up to $500 | | Video | Any eligible applicant | 5–7 minutes | Up to $500 |
Up to eight honorable mentions across categories also receive smaller cash prizes. All winners and honorable mentions receive a one-year INS membership.
What to write about: Essays must critically explore a current issue in neuroethics — the relationship between ethics, neuroscience, and society. Topics could include brain-computer interfaces, cognitive enhancement, mental health policy, neuroimaging and privacy, neurodiversity, or the ethics of emerging brain research.
2026 key dates:
- Submission deadline: August 21, 2026 (11:30 PM PDT)
- Winners notified: by November 2026
Submission rules:
- Original, unpublished work only
- English language required
- Up to two submissions per person (must be in different categories)
- Written essays submitted via online form; video essays uploaded to YouTube/Vimeo and linked in the submission form