What We Do

More than 16,000 scientific presentations were given at Neuroscience 2011 in Washington, D.C.

Mu-ming Poo of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a Presidential Special Lecture at Neuroscience 2011 called “Neurotrophins: From Axon Growth to Synaptic Plasticity.”

More than 500 companies exhibited their products, publications, and services at Neuroscience 2011.

SfN’s first career fair featured representatives from organizations around the world. Participants used the fair to explore their next career move and engage in face-to-face meetings with potential employers.

Capitol Hill Day brings together neuroscientists in Washington, D.C., to talk with representatives about the need for science funding. Left to right: Bill Mobley of the University of California, San Diego; SfN Past President Moses Chao; and Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA).

The Society for Neuroscience is committed to advancing the understanding of the brain and nervous system by creating venues where great science gets shared, providing professional development for neuroscience professionals, promoting public education and general education in neuroscience research, and informing legislators and other policymakers about new developments.

Major programs

The SfN annual meeting: Among the world’s largest scientific meetings and one of the top five U.S. medical and health meetings, the SfN annual meeting draws more than 30,000 attendees for scientific presentations, poster sessions, professional workshops, and training programs. More than 500 exhibitors convene annually to create the largest neuroscience marketplace in the world.

The Journal of Neuroscience: The most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field. The Journal celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2011 and remains a high-impact publication for new findings. It publishes 50 weeks a year and annually produces more than 17,500 editorial pages of emerging science.

Professional development programs: SfN careers and training resources serve members worldwide at all stages of their professional lives. They are expanding to provide information about a diversity of career paths and increase online availability. The NeuroJobs Career Center is a major field resource, while programming for women and underrepresented minority scientists is crucial in fostering field’s continued diversity. SfN also continues to focus on the professional development of early-career scientists.

Science outreach: SfN’s mission emphasizes the importance of engaging and inspiring the public — young and old alike — about the progress and promise of brain research. BrainFacts.org, a public information initiative of The Kavli Foundation, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and SfN, provides authoritative and engaging information for the public, educators, and policymakers. Programs such as Brain Awareness help members engage year-round with the public in communities around the globe.

Advocacy: SfN advocates strongly for investment in basic science research and the responsible use of animals in research. In the United States, programs bring members to Washington, DC, for advocacy days and engage them in local activities year round. Globally, SfN partners with many other international and national scientific societies to promote advocacy at the national level.