We supported WiredDifferently, a non-for-profit organisation leading several citizen science projects for neuroscience.

We previously supported Professor Sebastian Seung’s laboratory as part of the Gatsby Connectomics Consortium to use computer vision to enhance the accuracy of tracing analysis by humans of microscope images for high-throughput construction of neural circuit wiring diagrams.

This led to the creation of EyeWire in 2012, which became an online gaming community for neuroscience. It has more than 150,000 players across 130 countries. This semi-automated segmentation uses up to 100 times less human labour than purely manual work. EyeWire is successfully and rapidly contributing to high-impact discoveries in neuroscience, such as direction selectivity in the retina.

Given this success in both engaging the public and delivering information for research, we supported the establishment of WiredDifferently, which includes the EyeWire platform. They collaborated with best-in-class partners to develop the platform and maximise impact. In this way, WiredDifferently is a unique, genuine entwining of education, research and entertainment in the field of neuroscience.

EyeWire aspires to register one million members, a feat not yet achieved by any citizen science project. We encourage you to sign up, enjoy the game, map the brain, and assist neuroscience research.