A Queensland Brain Institute neuroscientist has been awarded a prestigious international fellowship in recognition of Australia’s research into how the brain learns.
QBI's Professor Ross Cunnington will travel to Switzerland next month as one of the first five people awarded a Science of Learning Fellowship worldwide, through a new program established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Bureau of Education and the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).
The program is designed to address urgent educational concerns ranging from curriculum development and learning, to migration and equitable development.
Professor Cunnington said he would use the fellowship to help apply scientific findings to broader education policy.
“This fellowship gives us a crucial opportunity to take our science of learning research directly to governments around the world and influence education policy,” Professor Cunnington said.
“We have a wealth of knowledge from neuroscience about how the brain learns, but often that knowledge just stops in the scientific journals and is not easily accessible.
“My role will be to translate that research into public messages and strategies for education policy that can go out to governments of the 195 member-countries that UNESCO represents around the world.”
Professor Cunnington is one of 25 Chief Investigators within Australia’s Science of Learning Research Centre (SLRC).
The SLRC brings together more than 100 neuroscientists, psychologists and education researchers from across the country,
Researchers collaborate on programs to better understand learning and improve education, using a range of innovative experimental techniques and programs.
Media: Professor Ross Cunnington, r.cunnington@uq.edu.au; QBI Communications, communications@qbi.uq.edu.au.
