Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is Chair of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, where she leads the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Group. Blakemore's research focuses on the development of the social brain in adolescence, with emphasis on social cognition, peer influence, and sensitivity to social context. Her work in adolescent brain development, supported by a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship, has contributed to the understanding of how the teenage brain shapes behavior and learning.

Blakemore has published more than 250 papers in scientific journals and has received several national and international awards, including the British Psychological Society Doctoral Award, Spearman Medal and Presidents' Award, the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award, the Klaus J. Jacobs Prize, the British Cognitive Neuroscience Society Mid-Career Award, and the Flux Society Huttenlocher Award. She has been recognized in The Times Young Female Power List and was among the scientists featured in Sunday Times 100 Makers of the 21st Century. Blakemore is a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Blakemore is known for translating neuroscience research for broad audiences. Her TED talk on the adolescent brain has reached millions of viewers. She collaborated on the play "Brainstorm," performed at the National Theatre in London, and served as a scientific consultant on the BBC series "The Human Mind." Blakemore co-authored the book "The Learning Brain: Lessons for Education" with Professor Uta Frith. She has served on advisory boards and scientific panels for organizations including the Royal Society, Academy of Medical Sciences, Times Education Commission, UK Department for Education, and Singapore Ministry of Education.

Her book, "Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain," draws on laboratory research to examine how the brain develops during adolescence and its impact on adult outcomes. The book received the Royal Society Book Prize, the British Psychological Society Book Prize, and the Hay Festival Book of the Year. It has contributed to public discussion on adolescent brain development, risk-taking, sleep, and mental health, and has been featured in Sunday Times Magazine.

Blakemore advises on policy areas including education, mental health, public health, and juvenile justice. She is an Honorary Fellow of St John's College Oxford, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Fellow of the British Academy, the American Association of Psychological Science, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Royal Society. Through her research, writing, and public advocacy, Blakemore has contributed to the understanding of adolescent development and its implications for society.