Nick Lee wins Joseph Lister Award Lecture at British Science Festival, sponsored by SAGE

Professor Nick Lee has today been announced as winner of the 2010 Joseph Lister social science award lecture - one of five prestigious lectures to be given at the annual British Science Festival. Professor Lee, Chair of Marketing and Organizational Research at Aston University, submitted a proposal that looks at the common myths and misperceptions of how the brain works in relation to marketing and advertising.

Consumers have always had an uneasy relationship with advertising, and with continually advancing research in neuroscience, many commentators have raised concerns about how 'neuromarketing' could influence purchasing decisions. The lecture will provide a whistle-stop tour of the implications of recent findings in the brain sciences, and how they might be applied to consumer behaviour and advertising.

"The objective is to give attendees a working knowledge of the brain, and how it relates to our consumption decisions, to enable them to make informed opinions about what is and is not possible in the future," said Lee.

The five British Science Festival Award Lectures are prestigious prizes for talented communicators with an interesting story to tell about their research.

One of the most popular components of the Festival, running from 14-19 September 2010 across Birmingham, the lectures are open to all and play a key role in promoting the public understanding of science. The Joseph Lister Award Lecture is the only award recognising a social scientists' contributions to how we understand the world.

"The social sciences play a crucial role in our understanding of individuals, groups and cultures," said Ziyad Marar, Global Publishing Director, SAGE. "Nick's work demonstrates the need to engage with social science research and scientific research - in this case neuroscience and marketing - to gain a deeper understanding of human behaviour."

Provided by SAGE Publications UK