Workshop of Ideas in Neuroscience

Why are there neuroscientists?

Heidelberg, December 5th 2025

Try to surprise your colleagues with a sudden question – why are you doing neuroscience?

You may expect them to fall silent for a moment, and then give you one of those unsatisfactory answers: oh, I was always fascinated by how the mind works. Or: it somehow happened.

We rarely have good answers to those questions. And yet there is an intricate web of reasons why we study the visual cortices of mice, the spatial cognition of bats, or the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. We certainly have our long-time fascinations – in memory, perception, and action – but we are also guided by previous, often random choices, inspired by other people, or shaped by circumstances. Some of us are guided by more or less pure curiosity, others by a hope of helping others. And then there are also those who genuinely don’t know.

The aim of this short workshop will be to discuss in depth our reasons for doing neuroscience. In a series of short talks, discussions, and group tasks – in the spirit of our Schools and Workshops of Ideas – we will try to ask (and maybe answer) questions:

  • What motivates – and what demotivates us – in our research?
  • How our overt motivations – ones that we speak about in public, in grant writing or science communication – relate to the real ones?
  • How does our motivation to do brain research influence our methodological choices?
  • How do the reasons we have differ depending on our background? Why does it matter?

This workshop will be held in the spirit of our Schools of Ideas—with an informal atmosphere and an open exchange of thoughts and perspectives.

Instructors:

  • Jules Duruz (COS, Heidelberg University)
  • Natalia Krasilshchikova (Universität Bonn)
  • Mateusz Kostecki (Heidelberg University)
  • Urszula Wlodkowska (Nencki Institute)

Participation fee is EUR 25. You can find the application form HERE.
Application deadline: November 14th.