On October 15, at the McNay Art Museum, over 200 guests gathered for BrainStorm Night 2025, an event that celebrated curiosity, connection, and community through the lens of neuroscience. Hosted by the Mind Science Foundation, the evening brought together researchers, local supporters, and science enthusiasts in what many described as a defining moment for the long-standing San Antonio institution.
Founded in 1958 by Tom Slick, the Mind Science Foundation has a deep local legacy of supporting groundbreaking brain research while fostering public understanding of science. This year’s event reflected that mission, signaling what felt like a resurgence for the foundation in its hometown.
The night began with a welcoming introduction from Cat Dizon, Vice Chair of the Foundation, followed by the introduction of Marissa Rodriguez, the organization’s new CEO. Under her leadership, Mind Science appears to be stepping confidently into a new era—one marked by outreach, innovation, and community engagement.
Chief Science Officer Dr. Ben Rein hosted a panel discussion with the BrainStorm finalists from around the world. The timing was particularly fitting: Rein’s new book, Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection, had launched just one day earlier and is already making waves in the scientific community.
The highlight of BrainStorm Night came when the Foundation awarded $100,000 in research funds to three rising neuroscientists—Agustina Aragon Daud (University of Liège, Belgium), Iris Garcia-Pak (UC San Diego), and Eti Ben-Simon (UC Berkeley). Their research explores the complex intersections of emotion, sleep, and social well-being—fields that speak directly to Mind Science’s mission of understanding human consciousness and connection.
The event also welcomed back two previous BrainStorm Award recipients, Minerva Contreras and Dr. Pilleriin Sikka, who have continued their neuroscience work at UC San Diego and Stanford University, respectively. Their return underscored the Foundation’s commitment to sustaining long-term scientific collaboration and its ongoing influence within the global research community.
Throughout the evening, attendees explored the McNay’s exhibition Sandy Skoglund: Enchanting Nature, mingled over food and drinks, and participated in the Audience Choice Award vote. The award, accompanied by an additional $10,000 grant, went to Agustina Aragon Daud for her exceptional research presentation.
Beyond the awards and accolades, BrainStorm Night 2025 represented something larger—a revitalization of Mind Science’s role in San Antonio’s cultural and intellectual landscape. With a fresh sense of purpose and an engaged local audience, the Foundation appears poised to reconnect the city with the cutting-edge science it has championed for decades.
As the night closed, the mood at the McNay felt less like the end of an event and more like the beginning of a new chapter for Mind Science—a renewed commitment to curiosity, discovery, and the human mind, all rooted right here in San Antonio.