John Butler @ Europe's Largest Neuroscience Meeting
Dr John Butler of the School of Mathematics & Statistics represented TU Dublin at Europe's largest neuroscience meeting.
Dr John Butler recently attended the FENS Forum in Barcelona (6–10 July), the largest gathering in the Forum of European Neuroscience Societies' history, with over 8,000 neuroscientists from across the globe in attendance.
John made several contributions throughout the week. He presented a poster showcasing research from Dr Rebecca Brady's ongoing PhD project, which applies mathematical modelling to understand how the brain combines visual and vestibular signals. The work bridges computational theory with experimental electrophysiological and behavioural data, showing how mathematics can drive discovery in neuroscience.
As a member of the FENS Communications Committee, John organised and hosted two well-attended events. The first, Art and Science: Creative Pathways for Science Communication, explored how art can serve as a vehicle for scientific communication, bringing together Dr Paulina Carriba (neuroscientist and dancer), comic book artist Luca Bergesio, and bioartist Anna Dumitriu. Each speaker reflected on the intersection of their creative practice with science and what researchers can gain from embracing more imaginative ways of sharing their work. The second event, Communicating Science Through Scientific Figures: From Data to Insight, featured practical talks from Dr Alejandra Alonso Garrido and Dr Christos Frantzidis on the craft of clear visual communication, culminating in a hands-on tutorial guiding participants through building a structured, logically flowing 3×3 panel figure with scientific rigour and ethical integrity.
John also contributed to a European Journal of Neuroscience symposium on reproducibility and rigour in scientific publishing, adding to broader conversations about transparency and quality standards in the field.