Our Vision
“With OWNS, we want to equip the next generation of neuroethicists with the practical skills required to tackle new and emerging challenges in this dynamic field.
Alongside closing a global gap in higher education, we also wish to provide an unforgettable learning experience and establish lasting networks for the future!”
Dr David Lyreskog, Director of the Oxford Winter Neuroethics School
OWNS Leadership Team
Dr David Lyreskog
Director
David is a Neuroethics researcher in the Neuroscience, Ethics and Society (NEUROSEC) team at Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry.
Dr Michael Wee
Deputy Director
Michael is Postdoctoral Researcher in Global Mental Health Ethics with the NEUROSEC team at Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry.
Prof. Ilina Singh
Senior Academic Advisor
Ilina is Professor of Neuroscience and Society at the University of Oxford and the NEUROSEC team’s lead. She is a research fellow at NIHR.
Dr Alex McKeown
Industry Advisor
Alex is a bioethicist and philosopher by training, with specialisms including data ethics, ethics in machine learning and AI.
Course Elements
OWNS is a hybrid course, with five online modules followed by an in-person Learning Accelerator in Oxford, culminating in a Pump Priming Grant competition.
Online Modules
Interactive sessions taught live by established and emerging neuroethicists at Oxford University and their research partners.
- Identify and analyse central problems in Neuroethics, arising both in a clinical context and in wider society
- Guided exercises in applying key theoretical and practical research methods to real-world neuroethical issues
- Design your own research proposal in Neuroethics and receive one-to-one feedback from an OWNS lecturer
Learning Accelerator
In-person, residential course at an Oxford University college
- Presentations of research proposals to peers and lecturers, with opportunities for feedback
- Meet researchers and industry professionals to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations
- Reflect on pressing neuroethical questions in a conducive, collegiate learning environment
Award
An initiative designed to enable researchers to kickstart their project
- Best Research Proposal Award announced at the end of Learning Accelerator
- Top ranked proposals eligible to compete for an exclusive Pump Priming Grant of up to £3,000
- Certificate of participation from Oxford University for all who fulfil course requirements
Course Fees
Admissions will be limited to 25 participants per year. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of our Admissions Policy.
Course fees are tiered to allow participation across a range of backgrounds. Criteria refer to applicant’s status at time of application.
The tiers are structured as follows:
Students & Postgraduates
£2,100
- Anyone currently studying for a PhD/MA/MSc/BA or equivalent
- Anyone currently unwaged
Early-career Professionals
£2,700
- Academics – anyone in a tenure-track academic position or a permanent position up to seven years post-PhD, or anyone post-PhD without a permanent or tenure-track academic position
- Non-academics – anyone in employment up to ten years after receiving final academic qualification (if without PhD), or up to seven years post-PhD
Mid-career & Senior Professionals
£3,600
- Academics – anyone in a permanent academic position, with more than seven years employment post-PhD
- Non-academics – anyone with more than ten years employment after receiving final academic qualification (if without PhD), or more than seven years post-PhD
Apply to OWNS 2025
Before you apply
Please read our Admissions Policy very carefully when preparing your application.
Before submitting your application, please also consult our Course Fees section to determine which category you fall under.
How to apply
Applications should be made, by 30th June 2025, through the online form on www.owns.org.uk. Applicants will need to provide (combined into one Word/PDF file):
- Summary CV (no more than two pages)
- Details of one referee (in the unlikely event that we wish to contact them)
- Answers to the following questions:
- ‘Why do you want to attend this winter school, and what do you hope to gain from it?’ (max. 250 words)
- ‘What areas of neuroethics have you done work/research in before, and/or what areas of neuroethics are you most interested in pursuing in the future?’ (max. 250 words)
- A short writing sample (500-750 words) engaging with the ethics of any issue in neuroscience, mental health or psychiatry. Please state if this is an excerpt of a longer piece you have previously written, or if you wrote this specifically for this application.
Applications from under-represented groups in neuroscience / neuroethics / bioethics / clinical medicine and related fields are particularly welcome. This includes, but is not limited to, applications from Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We have a broad view of ‘under-representation’, so if applicable, please also include in your application Word/PDF file:
- A short explanation of your status as an applicant from an under-represented group (max. 50 words)
Queries: owns@psych.ox.ac.uk
The application form will open here in January 2025.
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