Our history

Our origins stretch back to the 60s, when informal pub meetings were formalised into what was first called the Brain Research Association. Our members, past and present, include world-leading scientists making major discoveries in neuroscience. 

Contents

  1. Our origins
  2. Papers and articles
  3. People
  4. Previous Award Winners

Our origins

In the 1960s, a new type of interdisciplinary science gained an official name: neuroscience.

Neuroscience first saw the day of light under the name of the ‘Neurosciences Research Program’ or NRP. Founded in 1962, the NRP went on to become the American Society for Neuroscience.

In Britain, meanwhile, the first organisation that could lay claim to being dedicated to neuroscience was the predecessor of the British Neuroscience Association; the Brain Research Association (BRA) formally founded in London in 1968. The BRA shared the ethos of the American NRP, namely to promote multidisciplinarity and collaboration across the brain sciences.

Yet the BRA came from very humble beginnings.

It started as an eclectic group of like-minded scientists – not yet neuroscientists – who would gather at the Black Horse pub in Rathbone Place, London, to discuss topics that cut across different disciplines in brain science.  This “brain discussion group,” sometimes also called the London Neurobiology Discussion Group, was  initiated by four scientists: Steven Rose, John Lagnado, John Dobbing, and Robert Balázs. 

From the mid-1960s the BRA promoted neuroscience in the UK, organizing conferences and workshops, acting as a lobby group, promoting new courses, degrees, centres and chairs in the neurosciences and gradually engaging in the ethical and social implications emerging from this new field of research.  

The first BRA committee, elected in 1968 by postal vote, comprised eight members from different regions of the UK: John B. Cavanagh, Barry A. Cross, John Dobbing, Chris Evans, Edward George Gray, Pat Wall, Ian C. Whitefield, and Oliver L. Zangwill. Derek Richter and Donald MacKay (see The origins of the British Neuroscience Association by Edward Reynolds (2017)). UK representatives on the Central Council of the International Brain Research Organization, should also be acknowledged for their role in formalising the BRA as the first national neuroscience association in the UK.

It wasn’t until 1996 that BRA became the British Neuroscience Association. The linguistic mutation from ‘brain’ to ‘neuroscience’ is an illuminating moment in the history of the BNA (and brain research more broadly) for it reflects the rise of neuroscience in both scientific and popular imaginations. 

(Above text based on article in the 2012 BNA Bulletin, The Legend of the Black Horse, by Joelle M. Abi-Rached, Anne Cooke and Steven Rose)

See further information about the early years of the BNA in the Archive, below.

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Papers and articles

The origins of the BNA lie in the 1960s, when neuroscience first emerged as a disclipine in its own right. The exact nature and series of events that led to (what was then) to the Brain Research Association are a subject of some discussion, as becomes clear by reading the articles below.

The Legend of the Black Horse, by Joelle M. Abi-Rached, Anne Cooke and Steven Rose
British Neuroscience Association Bulletin, 63 pp 20-21 (2011)

The Legend of the Black Horse (revisited) by Robert Balazs & Edward H. Reynolds 
British Neuroscience Association Bulletin, 70 p28 (2014)

Reply to the Legend of the Black Horse (revisited) by Abi-Rached, JM, SPR Rose, and J Lagnado
British Neuroscience Association Bulletin, 70 p29 (2014)

From brain to neuro: the Brain Research Association and the making of British neuroscience 1965–1996, by JM Abi-Rached
J Hist Neurosci, 21 (2012), pp. 189–213
DOI: 10.1080/0964704X.2011.552413

Letter to the Editor and Authors' Response: Reaction to Abi-Rached JM (2012): From Brain to Neuro: The Brain Research Association and the Making of British Neuroscience, 1965–1996. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences 21:189–213) by Robert Balazs & Edward H. Reynolds 
J Hist Neurosci, 22 (2013), pp. 199-207
DOI: 10.1080/0964704X.2012.750700

Authors' Response: Of Founding Fathers and History by Joelle M. Abi-Rached & Steven P.R. Rose
J Hist Neurosci, 22 (2013), pp. 208-211
DOI: 10.1080/0964704X.2012.754270

50 years of neuroscience, by Steven Rose
The Lancet, Volume 385, Issue 9968, 14–20 February 2015, Pages 598–599
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60224-0

The origins of the British Neuroscience Association by E. Reynolds
Neuroscience 367, pp. 10–14. (2017)
doi: 10.1016/J.NEUROSCIENCE.2017.09.057

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People

BNA Officers and Trustees from 2017 to present

Year Officers Trustees  
2022-2023

President: Rik Henson

Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi

Treasurer: Trevor Bushell

Catherine Abbott
Mike Ashby
Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin

Alan Palmer
Tara Spires-Jones
Volko Straub
Mark Walton

2021-2022

President: Rik Henson

Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi

Treasurer: Catherine Harmer

Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin
Anthony Isles
Anne Lingford-Hughes
Alan Palmer
Narender Ramnani
Tara Spires-Jones
Volko Straub
2020-2021

President: Rik Henson

Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi

Treasurer: Catherine Harmer

Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin
Anthony Isles
Anne Lingford-Hughes
Alan Palmer
Narender Ramnani
Tara Spires-Jones
Volko Straub
2020-2021

President: Annette Dolphin

Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi

Treasurer: Catherine Harmer

Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin
Anthony Isles
Stafford Lightman
Anne Lingford-Hughes
Alan Palmer
Narender Ramnani
Volko Straub
2019-2020

President: Annette Dolphin

Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi

Treasurer: Catherine Harmer

Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin
Anthony Isles
Stafford Lightman
Anne Lingford-Hughes
Rosamund Langston
Alan Palmer
Narender Ramnani
2018-2019

President: Stafford Lightman

Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi

Treasurer: Catherine Harmer

John Aggleton
Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin
Anthony Isles
Anne Lingford-Hughes
Rosamund Langston
Alan Palmer
Narender Ramnani
2017-2018

President: Stafford Lightman

Secretary: Emil Toescu

Treasurer: Catherine Harmer

John Aggleton
Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
Annette Dolphin
Anthony Isles

Anne Lingford-Hughes
Rosamund Langston
Alan Palmer
Narender Ramnani
     

BNA Officers and Trustees 2014 - 2017

Year President Secretary Treasurer Non-Executive Directors
2016-2017 John Aggleton Emil Toescu Attila Sik Alan Palmer
Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox
2015-2016 John Aggleton Emil Toescu Attila Sik

Alan Palmer
Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox

2014-2015 Russell Foster Bruno Frenguelli Attila Sik

Alan Palmer
Manfred Berners
Kevin Cox

 

BNA Officers 1968 - 2014

Year President (Chair 1968-1997) Secretary Treasurer
2013-2014 Russell Foster Bruno Frenguelli Duncan Banks
2012-2013 David Nutt Bruno Frenguelli Duncan Banks
2011-2012 David Nutt Bruno Frenguelli Duncan Banks
2010-2011 Trevor Robbins Bruno Frenguelli Duncan Banks
2009-2010 Trevor Robbins Colin Ingram Duncan Banks
2008-2009 Graham Collingridge Colin Ingram Stefan Przyborski
2007-2008 Graham Collingridge Colin Ingram Stefan Przyborski
2006-2007 Richard Frackowiak Debbie Dewar Stefan Przyborski
2005-2006 Richard Frackowiak Debbie Dewar Colin Ingram
2004-2005 Richard Frackowiak Debbie Dewar Colin Ingram
2003-2004 Nancy Rothwell Raj Kalaria Ian Varndell
2002-2003 Nancy Rothwell Raj Kalaria Ian Varndell
2001-2002 Nancy Rothwell Raj Kalaria Ian Varndell
2000-2001 Nancy Rothwell Raj Kalaria Ian Varndell
1999-2000 Colin Blakemore Paul Bolam Lindy Holden-Dye
1998-1999 Colin Blakemore Paul Bolam Lindy Holden-Dye
1997-1998 Colin Blakemore Paul Bolam Lindy Holden-Dye
1996-1997 Susan Iversen Paul Bolam Philip Bradley
1995-1996 Susan Iversen Mike Stewart Philip Bradley
1994-1995 Susan Iversen Mike Stewart Philip Bradley
1993-1994 Richard Morris Mike Stewart Philip Bradley
1992-1993 Richard Morris Mike Stewart Philip Bradley
1991-1992 Richard Morris Ian Kilpatrick Philip Bradley
1990-1991 Richard Morris Ian Kilpatrick John Garthwaite
1989-1990 John Kelly Peter Roberts John Garthwaite
1987-1989 John Kelly Peter Roberts Steve Logan
1986-1987 John Kelly Peter Roberts Ray Hill
1985-1986 John O’Keefe Vicky Sterling Ray Hill
1984-1985 John O’Keefe Vicky Sterling Ray Hill
1983-1984 John O’Keefe Vicky Sterling Ray Hill
1982-1983 Adam Sillito Vicky Sterling Ray Hill
1981-1982 Adam Sillito Vicky Sterling Paul Lewis
1979-1981 John Wolstencroft John O’Keefe Paul Lewis
1978-1979 John Wolstencroft John O’Keefe Sandra File
1977-1978 Geof Einon John O’Keefe Sandra File
1976-1977 Horace Barlow Geof Einon Sandra File
1974-1976 Horace Barlow Geof Einon John Wolstencroft
1973-1974 Pat Wall Chris Evans John Wolstencroft
1968-1973 Pat Wall Chris Evans John Dobbing

 

BNA people

This list includes a range of roles at the BNA, such as but not limited to: Trustees, Patrons, Council, Executive and Committee Members. The dates are listed with first known interaction with the BNA to the last known interaction. (The names and dates may be incomplete, as all information was drawn from letters, BNA bulletins and annual reports, when these were available. If you are aware of any missing or wrong data, please email us at office@bna.org.uk, so we can update it.)  

  • 1968 - 1974 Pat Wall
  • 1968 - 1974 Chris Evans
  • 1968 - 1973 John Dobbing
  • 1968 - (?) E.G. Gray
  • 1968 - (?) Barry Cross
  • 1968 - (?) Oliver Zangwill
  • 1968 - (?) John Cavanagh
  • 1968 - (?) Steven Rose
  • 1968 - (?) Edward Gray
  • 1968 - (?) Ian Whitefield
  • 1973 - 1981 John Wolstencroft
  • 1974 - 1977 Horace Barlow
  • 1974 - 1978 Geof Einon
  • 1976 - 1979 Sandra File
  • 1977 - 1991 John O’Keefe
  • 1977 - 1999 Peter Woodhams
  • 1977 - 2000 Bill Wisden
  • 1979 - 1982 Paul Lewis
  • 1981 - 1983 Adam Sillito
  • 1981 - 1994 Vicky Sterling
  • 1982 - 1987 Ray Hill
  • 1986 - 1987 John Kemp
  • 1986 - 1989 Bob Lieberman
  • 1986 - 1989 Steve McMahon
  • 1986 - 1991 V. Hugh Perry
  • 1986 - 1993 John Kelly
  • 1986 - 1990 Peter Roberts
  • 1986 - 1989 Steve Logan
  • 1986 - 1996 John Parnavelas
  • 1986 - 1993 Phillip Winn
  • 1987 - 1988 David Rose
  • 1987 - 1989 Nick Payne
  • 1987 - 1990 Steve Rose
  • 1989 - 1991 John Garthwaite
  • 1989 - 1992 Ian Kilpatrick
  • 1989 - 1991 Lynn Bindman
  • 1989 - 1993 Stephen W. Davies
  • 1989 - 1991 Marianne Fillenz
  • 1989 - 1991 David Sattelle
  • 1989 - 1993 Howard Wheal
  • 1990 - 1991 Rob Clarke
  • 1990 - 1996 Richard Morris
  • 1990 - 1998 Philip Bradley
  • 1990 - 1991 Alan Crossman
  • 1992 - 1995 Gordon Arbuthnott
  • 1992 - 1993 Tony Dickenson
  • 1992 - 1995 Anne Stephenson
  • 1992 - 2010 Mike Stewart
  • 1992 - 2014 Anne King
  • 1993 - 2006 Paul Bolam
  • 1994 - 1996 Steven Hunt
  • 1994 - 1999 Geoff Bennett
  • 1994 - 2008 Yvonne Allen
  • 1994 - 2006 Susan Iversen
  • 1996 - 1997 Steve Butcher
  • 1996 - 1998 Mitch Glickstein
  • 1996 - 2003 Lindy Holden-Dye
  • 1997 - 2000 Mike Joseph
  • 1997 - 1999 Aviva Tolkovsky
  • 1997 - 2003 Colin Blakemore
  • 1997 - 2014 Duncan Banks
  • 1997 - 2009 Helen Hodges
  • 1998 - 2000 Rebecca Jones
  • 1999 - 2002 Gavin Swanson
  • 1999 - 2002 Bob Halliwell
  • 1999 - 2002 Sue Barnett
  • 1999 - 2006 Nancy Rothwell
  • 1999 - 2004 Raj Kalaria
  • 1999 - 2021 Ian Varndell
  • 2000 - 2001 A. Jackie Hunter
  • 2000 - 2003 Richard Ribchester
  • 2000 - 2003 David Tomlinson
  • 2001 - 2002 Ruth McKernan
  • 2001 - 2002 Adam Smith
  • 2001 - 2003 Huseyin Mehmet
  • 2001 - 2010 Colin Ingram
  • 2003 - 2005 Victoria Gill
  • 2003 - 2006 Mike O'Neill
  • 2003 - 2007 Debbie Dewar
  • 2003 - 2009 Judith Pratt
  • 2004 - 2007 Richard Frackowiak
  • 2005 - 2005 Phil Butcher
  • 2006 - 2008 Stefan Przyborski
  • 2006 - 2008 Vincent O'Connor
  • 2006 - 2007 Andrew King
  • 2006 - 2006 Samantha Potts
  • 2006 - 2010 Mike Rigby
  • 2006 - 2022 Narender Ramnani
  • 2007 - 2009 Graham Collingridge
  • 2007 - 2011 Lucy Annett
  • 2007 - 2015 Bruno Frenguelli
  • 2008 - 2014 Elaine Snell
  • 2008 - 2011 Mike Modo
  • 2008 - 2011 Paul Chazot
  • 2008 - 2011 Peter Magill
  • 2008 - 2009 Andreas Wyttenbach
  • 2008 - 2008 Dawn Roberts
  • 2009 - 2011 Trevor Robbins
  • 2009 - present Trevor Bushell
  • 2009 - 2013 Simon Schulz
  • 2010 - 2018 Attila Sik
  • 2011 - 2017 Peter Brophy
  • 2011 - 2011 Hannah Critchlow
  • 2011 - 2011 Arciris Garay-Arevalo
  • 2011 - present Louise Tratt
  • 2011 - 2015 David Nutt
  • 2011 - 2017 Russell Foster
  • 2012 - 2013 John Isaac
  • 2012 - 2014 Jenni Harvey
  • 2012 - 2014 Dimitri Kullmann
  • 2012 - 2017 Irene Tracey
  • 2012 - 2014 Felicity Gavins
  • 2013 - 2017 Gary Gilmour
  • 2013 - 2019 John Aggleton
  • 2013 - 2018 Emil Toescu
  • 2013 - present Alan Palmer
  • 2013 - present Manfred Berners
  • 2013 - present Kevin Cox
  • 2014 - 2014 Cecilia Golborne
  • 2015 - 2020 Stafford Lightman
  • 2015 - 2022 Anthony Isles
  • 2015 - 2020 Rosamund Langston
  • 2015 - 2019 Deborah Castle
  • 2015 - 2019 Mark Ungless
  • 2015 - 2019 Thelma Lovick
  • 2015 - 2017 Joanne Bailey
  • 2015 - 2019 John Jefferys
  • 2015 - 2023 Anne Cooke
  • 2017 - 2022 Catherine Harmer
  • 2017 - 2023 Annette Dolphin
  • 2017 - 2022 Anne Lingford-Hughes
  • 2017 - 2020 Hugh Piggins
  • 2017 - 2020 Elizabeth Coulthard
  • 2017 - 2020 Natalie Doig
  • 2017 - 2018 Alexander Collcutt
  • 2018 - 2023 Zoe Kourtzi
  • 2018 - 2023 Crawford Winlove
  • 2018 - 2020 Georgina Hazell
  • 2018 - 2023 Sophie Jerrold
  • 2019 - present Rik Henson
  • 2019 - 2023 Sarah Guthrie
  • 2019 - 2023 Emma Yhnell
  • 2019 - 2023 Alex Campbell
  • 2020 - present Tara Spires-Jones
  • 2020 - present Volko Straub
  • 2020 - present Emma Soopramanien
  • 2020 - present Joseph Clift
  • 2020 - 2021 Hannah Thurgur
  • 2021 - 2022 Akseli Ilmanen
  • 2022 - present Dani Wijesinghe
  • 2022 - present Michael Ashby
  • 2022 - present Catherine Abbott
  • 2022 - present Mark Walton
  • 2022 - 2023 Lamia Sanzana
  • 2022 - 2023 Sophie Grange
  • 2022 - 2023 Rachel Sellick
  • 2023 - 2024 Grace Cooper
  • 2023 - 2024 Alex Baltazar Hall
  • 2023 - 2024 Rosangela Sumbo

 

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Previous Award Winners

BNA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience

Year Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience
2022 Professor Dame Pamela Shaw
Consultant neurologist, and professor of neurology at the University of Sheffield.
2021 Professor Joanna Wardlaw
Chair of Applied Neuroimaging; Head of Neuroimaging Sciences and Edinburgh Imaging; Row Fogo Centre Director, University of Edinburgh
2020 Professor Karen Duff
Associate Director (Professor in Dementia and Neurodegeneration) at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL.
2019 

Professor Steve McMahon
Sherrington Professor of Physiology at King's College London

2018 Professor Irene Tracey
Head of Department for the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Professor of Anaesthetic Science
Oxford University
2017 Professor Michael Owen
Professor of Psychological Medicine (Psychiatry)
Cardiff University
2016 Professor David Ogden
Université Paris Descartes 
2015 Professor Angela Vincent
MBBS (Hon PhD Bergen) FRCPath FMedSci FRD, University of Oxford
2014 Professor Dame Kay Davies
CBE, DBE, F.MedSci., FRS. University of Oxford
2013 Professor Uta Frith
Professor of Cognitive Development
UCL Institute of  Neuroscience
2012 Professor Steven Rose
Emeritus Professor of Biology, Open University. Emeritus Professor of Phsick, Gresham College London. Visiting Professor, University College London.
2011 Sir Gabriel Horn FRS FRCP
Emeritus Professor of Zoology
University of Cambridge
2010 Not awarded
2009 FRS Professor Geoffrey Burnstock FRS
2008 FRS Professor Chris Frith FRS
2007 Professor John O'Keefe FRS
2006 Professor Horace Barlow FRS
2005 Professor Richard Gregory FRS
2004 Professor Geoffrey Raisman FRS
2003 Dr Tim Bliss
2002 Professor Richard Morris FRS FRSE
2001 Professor Colin Blakemore FRS
2000 Professor Patrick Wall FRS
First recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Neuroscience Award

 

BNA Award for Public Engagement of Neuroscience

Year Public Engagement of Neuroscience
2022 Sophie Sanford
Sophie pioneered a new virtual, free STEM conference – Making it Brain - specifically aimed at students aged 16+. 
2021 The BrainBus team, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge
BrainBus at MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit provides a pivotal outreach experience to primary school children, exposing them to subjects, careers and role models which they would not otherwise encounter.
2020 Matt Eagles
Matt Eagles has been living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) for some 45 years, but has never succumbed and has been using his enormous experience of this brain disease to raise awareness of PD, acting as a tireless patient advocate and a frequent public speaker contributing to charity events, clinical and scientific meetings and conferences.
2019 Dr Dean Burnett
Dean Burnett is a neuroscientist, lecturer, author, blogger, podcaster, pundit, science communicator, comedian and numerous other things, depending on who’s asking and what they need.
2018 Dr Emma Yhnell
Cardiff University. Health and Care Research Wales Fellow working in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI). Fellowship focusing on computerised cognitive training (brain training) for people with Huntington's disease. Dedicated STEM ambassador and role model who was awarded the prestigious Charles Darwin Lecture at the 2018 British Science Festival.  
2017 Dr Dervila Glynn
University of Cambridge. Neuroscience coordinator who supports neuroscientists across the institution through activities including conferences and seminars. Significant contributor to BRAINfest public event in 2017. 
2016 Dr Emma Robinson
University of Bristol. A full time neuroscientist who is also highly active in carrying out public engagement, and in facilitating other people to do so via the Bristol Neuroscience Festival. 
  Public Understanding of Neuroscience
2015

Professor Mark Lythgoe
University College London. TV and radio presenter, director of Cheltenham Science Festival.

2014 Science Media Centre
Fiona Fox, Chief Executive and Dr Edward Sykes, Senior Press Manager and Head of Mental Health & Neuroscience.
2013 Dr Jane Haley
Edinburgh Neuroscience Coordinator, University of Edinburgh
2012 Claudia Hammond
British author, occasional TV presenter, and frequent radio presenter with the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4
2011 Oliver Sacks MD FRCP
Neurologist and Author; Columbia University, New York
2010 Ben Goldacre
Medical doctor, author and blogger
2009 Mary Baker MBE
2008 Sir Terry Pratchett
2007 Lord (David) Sainsbury of Turville
2006 Michael Robins
2005 Dr Mark Matfield
2004 European DANA Alliance for the Brain (EDAB)
2003 Lord (Jack) Ashley of Stoke
2002 Marjorie Wallace (SANE)
2001 Lord (Brian) Rix of Hornsea (MENCAP)
2000 Andrew Blake
1999 Julia Somerville
First recipient of the BNA Public Service Award

 

BNA Undergraduate and Postgraduate Prizes

Year Undergraduate Winner Postgraduate Winner
2022 Catherine Whittle, 
Durham University
Andrija Sente, 
University of Cambridge
2021 Sioned Williams
(University of Leeds)
Alberto Lazari
(University of Oxford)
2020 Tahnee Mackensen
(University of Edinburgh)
Alexander Bates
(University of Cambridge)
2019

Pia Siegele
(University of Edinburgh)

James Phillips
(University of Cambridge)

2018 Rachel Coney 
(University of Leeds) 
Delia Fuhrmann
(University College London)
2017 Irene Echeverria Altuna 
(University College London) 
Gido van de Ven
(University of Oxford)
2016 Jointly awarded to:
Alina Gutoreva (University of Leeds)
Blair Wilson (University of Edinburgh)
Chen Song 
(University College London)
2015 Veselina Petrova
(University of Edinburgh)
Kathryn Mills
(University College London)
2014 Lauren Byrne
(University of Edinburgh)
Linda Katona
(University of Oxford)
2013 Elina Jacobs
(University of Edinburgh)
Rumana Chowdhury
(University College London)
2012 Lewis Hou
(University of Edinburgh)
Dr Florence Rose Fricker
(King's College London)
2011 Kate Clark (University of Central Lancashire)
Special Commendation to Joseph Norris (King's College London)
Dr Christian Münch
(LMB, University of Cambridge)
2010 Owen Thomas (University of Birmingham)
Special Commendation to Sally Harris
(University of Bristol)

Dr Stephanie Burnett
(University College London)

2009 Not awarded Not awarded
2008 Phillip Goldrich
(University of Leeds)
Dr Lara Menzies
(University of Cambridge)
2007 Richard Hickman
(University of Birmingham)
Dr Rosamund Langston
(University of Edinburgh)
2006 Sophie Buglass
(University of Leeds)
Dr Karen Luyt
(University of Bristol)
2005 Jointly awarded to:
Luxmi Fatimathas (University College London) 
Matthew Martin (University of Bradford)
Dr Felipe Court
(University of Edinburgh)

 

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