Mensa Foundation

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 bit.ly/Colloquium2026 #mfnbrainhealth #colloquium2026

We think you'd be great at this 🤓 Help someone reach their academic and professional goals! Here's how: https://ow.ly/IMqn50XiCjA #UnleashingIntelligence

As AI grows more capable, it’s tempting to view human thought as less efficient, less scalable, or even less necessary. In her timely and reflective essay, GY Perspective: HI During the Age of AI, Mensan Natalia Ventskivska offers a compelling counterpoint: The value of the human mind isn’t in how fast it processes, but in how deeply it understands. Natalia argues that our ability to interpret, question, and assign meaning remains uniquely human and vital. She explores several types of intelligence that extend beyond using logic and data: 💠Emotional intelligence – the capacity for empathy and connection 💠Moral intelligence – the ability to apply ethics and judgment 💠Existential intelligence – our awareness of meaning, mortality, and purpose Influenced by her life as a gifted youth and inspired by recent conversations about AI, Natalia advocates for our Foundation’s research exploring multifaceted forms of intelligence. 🔗 Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/gudx_R-t #JointheConversation: What do you believe is the most irreplaceable quality of human intelligence in the age of AI? #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanCognition #RedefiningIntelligence

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 is our highest honor, awarded every two years to a researcher whose work deepens our understanding of intelligence and contributes meaningfully to the betterment of humanity. In 2025, that honor goes to 𝗗𝗿. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗸 𝗨𝗹𝗹é𝗻, a cognitive neuroscientist whose groundbreaking research explores the relationship between practice and creativity, particularly in the context of music. Dr. Ullén’s work reveals that intelligence is more than a score — it's a dynamic, learnable interplay of cognitive ability, passion, and persistence. His research helps educators, psychologists, and everyday people understand: • How we learn • Why deliberate practice matters • What fuels lifelong cognitive growth The Mensa Foundation Prize is a signal to the world that 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣, 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙. Help us honor more leaders like Dr. Ullén. Your gift ensures this work continues. 👉 Donate now: mensafoundation.org/donate More about Dr. Ullén’s research: https://lnkd.in/gekUar7R

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. All are welcome to watch and hear: • Brief updates from our Board and staff • Key decisions • Zoom Q&A; we’ll answer as many questions as time allows. Oct. 15, 2025, 6:30 p.m. for 60–90 minutes. “Doors” open at 6:20. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g-JGbc3U Email us if you need something else. mailto:info@mensafoundation.org. Can’t make it? Register and we’ll send a recording and a quick recap after the meeting. Stay involved: Follow us on LinkedIn/Facebook.

Have you ever felt like your strengths come at a cost? For many neurodivergent or gifted adults, being wired differently can feel like both a superpower and a strain. You think fast, feel deeply, see connections others miss and, you often carry the weight of burnout, self-doubt, or being misunderstood. In this vulnerable and honest piece, 𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡 𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣, Rev. Dr. Chip Graves shares what it’s like to live in that tension. He reminds us that while neurodivergence can feel like too much in a world that demands sameness, it also carries the potential for fulfillment. From the overwhelm of early schooling to a spiritual, life-altering trip to India, Chip began to see his neurodivergence not just as something to manage, but something to integrate, and eventually use in service to others. If you’ve ever wrestled with the double-edged nature of being different, this one will speak to you. 🔗 Read the full piece: https://lnkd.in/gWsv7bwZ #JoinTheConversation: How has your difference shaped your life — your career, your relationships, your self-understanding?

Become a Mensa Foundation Scholarship Judge! Open to both Mensa and non-Mensa members. Help bright students earn life-changing scholarships by evaluating essays for over $200,000 in awards! What’s in it for you? • Make a difference in students’ lives • Read inspiring stories • Flexible, remote judging (10–20 hours total) • It’s all online — judge 50+ essays from late January to March Ready to empower the next generation? Sign up now: bit.ly/Scholarship-Judge #MensaFoundation #UnleashIntelligence #Volunteerism #ScholarshipJudge

Have you ever felt like a stranger? Even to yourself? As if the world was built for someone else and not you? If you have, know this: you’re not broken. You’re complex. And we see you. If you haven’t, chances are you know someone who has. Either way, recognizing this complexity can grow everyone’s awareness. In our September Insights blog You’re Not Fully Human, Lindsey Mackereth MA, LPCC, LADC shares that feeling out of sync doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. She calls it neurocomplexity — a sign your system works in its own unique way. When you feel alienated, push back against rules, or get told you’re “too much,” those aren’t flaws. They’re signals. They show you where you’re most alive and maybe even where your purpose is waiting. Her reminder is simple: the goal isn’t to blend in. It’s to show up as yourself. Let your complexity guide you. Let it be the strength only you can bring. #JoinTheConversation: If giftedness and neurodivergence mean living with complexity — logic and intuition, joy and sorrow, order and chaos. How do those experiences show up in your life? Do they feel like obstacles, strengths, or both?

Is Giftedness a Form of Neurodivergence? Some see giftedness as simply high ability. Others believe it is an entirely different way of experiencing the world. On October 4 at 2 p.m. Central, Dr. Noks Nauta, a physician and psychologist from the Netherlands, will share why she does not view giftedness as neurodivergence. This talk is part of an ongoing conversation, and we would love for you to be part of it. Bring your questions. Share your perspective. 🔗Register here: https://ow.ly/1bBi50X3TPB #UnleashingIntelligence #NurturingBrilliance #Neurodivergence

𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 – 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 The Mensa Foundation’s Top 10 Tips for Scholarship Essays offers practical, experience-based guidance to help you stand out. Hear from Mensa Foundation staff, Molly Bundschuh. She surveyed our volunteer judges to uncover what really makes a scholarship essay stand out. Learn how to: • Craft a compelling narrative • Avoid common mistakes • Let your voice shine 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🔗 Read the blog: [https://ow.ly/G77I50X2Vto] #Scholarships #CollegeBound #UnleashingIntelligence Pictured: Mensa Foundation Scholarship Recipient Vera H. Graduation with Paulette Guajardo, Mayor of Corpus Christi