<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Dear Illusion Enthusiasts,</span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>We know you've been waiting! The final voting round of the 2024 Best Illusion of the Year Contest was originally slated for last December, but a critical website issue required a thorough and careful complete rebuild to ensure the integrity and security of our global voting process. We appreciate your patience as we worked diligently behind the scenes—and we're delighted to announce that the wait is finally over! We’re more excited than ever to share the mind-bending illusions from our incredible finalists with you! </span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Worldwide voting for the 2024 <a href="http://illusionoftheyear.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Best Illusion of the Year Contest</span></a> will start on Monday, June 23<sup>rd</sup>, and will remain open until Friday, June 27<sup>th</sup></span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>. The 1<sup><span style='border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>st</span></sup> place winner will receive $3,000, the 2<sup><span style='border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>nd</span></sup> place winner $2,000, and the 3<sup><span style='border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>rd</span></sup> place winner $1,000.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>The Top 10 Finalists, selected from dozens of entries from countries all around the world, will be publicly revealed at voting time. </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Anybody with an internet connection (that means YOU!) can <b>vote to pick the Top 3 Winners from the Top 10 Finalists.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2B2B2B;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>The Neural Correlate Society thanks </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>our 2024 <b>Platinum</b></span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2B2B2B;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'> Sponsor, the </span></b><b><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="https://www.museumofillusions.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Museum of Illusions</span></a></span></u></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2B2B2B;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>, for </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>their </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2B2B2B;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>generous support</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'> of the Best Illusion of the Year Contest</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2B2B2B;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>On behalf of the Executive Board of the Neural Correlate Society:<br>Jose-Manuel Alonso, Stephen Macknik, Susana Martinez-Conde, Luis Martinez, Xoana Troncoso, Peter Tse<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>----------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Author, <a href="x-msg://2/championsofillusionbook.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Champions of Illusion</span></a> and <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__www.sleightsofmind.com_%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3DslrrB7dE8n7gBJbeO0g-IQ%26r%3Dg2Yp4_ao3SNvpe_N-aKotUCw6Uk5ZCFaHS4yfmcUC-E%26m%3DDXCSOfrVF8RiRxxw222LzMlWLE4w8bjHlyBdQlqW200%26s%3DaQcZQB18cQC5Y4VSmK5FveDMw6uaM1M0c4k-USm-F3M%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CSusana.Martinez-Conde%40downstate.edu%7C4ff6b6d84e27499b34c008d75c80fbf9%7C22670793760f482993153e427c362e69%7C0%7C0%7C637079581374295223&sdata=F4vAf25dt%2Bt3qUndttBZhmVY6kQswHANcGtY%2FdNxDUo%3D&reserved=0"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Sleights of Mind</span></a><br>Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Physiology & Pharmacology<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Director, Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>2014 <i>Society for Neuroscience</i>’s Science Educator Award<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>2014 Empire Innovator Scholar <br>State University of New York (SUNY)<br>Downstate Health Sciences University<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn NY 11203, USA<br>Email: <a href="mailto:smart@neuralcorrelate.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>smart@neuralcorrelate.com</span></a><br>Phone: <a href="tel:%2B1%20718-270-4520" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>+1 718-270-4520</span></a><br><a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__smc.neuralcorrelate.com%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3DslrrB7dE8n7gBJbeO0g-IQ%26r%3Dg2Yp4_ao3SNvpe_N-aKotUCw6Uk5ZCFaHS4yfmcUC-E%26m%3DDXCSOfrVF8RiRxxw222LzMlWLE4w8bjHlyBdQlqW200%26s%3DKATdyZA41wbtJjQw0aQ-muILTCtWazvhDIkKlt_7RFc%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CSusana.Martinez-Conde%40downstate.edu%7C4ff6b6d84e27499b34c008d75c80fbf9%7C22670793760f482993153e427c362e69%7C0%7C0%7C637079581374295223&sdata=kUseYHHgKR%2B6fvIACCmFFUChup93nVdjjHp1Jqum3KM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://smc.neuralcorrelate.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>