Emma Yhnell Named Next BrainFacts Editor in Chief
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Yhnell, PhD, as the next editor-in-chief of BrainFacts, its public information resource about the brain and nervous system. Yhnell will begin her tenure on Jan. 1, 2027.
Yhnell brings a unique skill set to the role of editor-in-chief. A reader (associate professor) in neuroscience at Cardiff University and associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion in its College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, she is also an award-winning educator and science communicator. Her experience in neuroscience research, public engagement, and making science accessible to diverse audiences makes her an ideal choice to lead BrainFacts.
“I am delighted to join BrainFacts as editor-in-chief and honored to be the first woman to serve in this role,” Yhnell said. “Making neuroscience accessible in academia and beyond has been a driving force throughout my career. I look forward to helping more people discover the fascination, relevance, and real-world impact of brain science through trusted, evidence-based storytelling as I lead BrainFacts into its next chapter.”
Yhnell earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a doctorate in behavioral neuroscience at Cardiff University. Her early research focused on Huntington’s disease, including work examining cognitive training during an independent fellowship funded by Health and Care Research Wales. Working with people affected by the disease helped shape her commitment to communicating research in ways that are engaging, relevant, and understandable to patients, families, and the public.
Yhnell’s science communication experience spans classrooms, community events, festivals, and broadcast media. She created and presented a two-part BBC Radio Wales series on dementia and has contributed to books about the brain for general audiences including How the Brain Works: The Facts Visually Explained. Yhnell makes use of inclusive approaches in her teaching and public engagement that encourage people of different ages and backgrounds to explore neuroscience.
Yhnell received SfN’s 2024 Science Educator Award, which recognizes significant contributions to educating the public about neuroscience. Her other honors include a National Teaching Fellowship, a Principal Fellowship of Advance HE (a UK member-led charity that helps universities and other higher education institutions improve teaching, leadership, governance, and inclusion), and the British Neuroscience Association’s Public Engagement Award.
As editor-in-chief, Yhnell will help guide BrainFacts’ editorial work to connect the public with accurate, accessible information about the brain and nervous system. Her appointment supports BrainFacts’ mission to inspire curiosity and empower people to explore neuroscience and its relevance to their lives.
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BrainFacts is an editorially independent public information resource presented by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). Overseen by an editorial board of neuroscientists, BrainFacts helps people understand the brain and nervous system through accessible, scientifically accurate content. Visit BrainFacts.org.
SfN is an organization of nearly 30,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and the nervous system.
