Grass Traveling Scientist Program

Background and Procedures

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LOCAL LECTURES

For 30 years, the chapters of the Society for Neuroscience have had the pleasure of inviting renowned neuroscientists to their institutions for seminars, lectures, and laboratory visits. These educational endeavors would not be possible without the generous funding provided by the Grass Foundation. With these funds, more than 900 lecture visits have been held since the Grass Traveling Scientist Program began.

This program provides a means of support for chapters to engage in and foster neuroscience education on the local level and has been particularly valuable to chapters in the outer reaches. A maximum of $1,200.00 is allotted toward the expenses of a speaker. This amount includes an honorarium of $300.00.

CRITERIA FOR OBTAINING GRASS ASSISTANCE

Since the number of chapter requests that can be honored in a given year is limited by the program budget, eligibility for a tour is based on the length of time that has passed since the chapter last hosted a Grass Lecturer and chapter locale (priority is given to those chapters that are otherwise less accessible).

SELECTING A SPEAKER

Please note there is no pre-selected list of speakers from which one must choose. The chapter makes the selection of a speaker. Chapter representatives are urged to consult with the members of their group so that the choice of a speaker is representative of the membership's preference.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Tours are organized in a spring series and a fall series.  Chapters will be notified of their application's status approximately one month after the posted application deadline.

NATURE OF TOURS

Speakers usually agree to visit a chapter for 1 or 2 days, allowing ample time for a formal seminar presentation and extensive informal interaction with faculty and students. Beyond the seminar, the precise nature of the visit is determined by the chapter in conjunction with the speaker. Many visiting neuroscientists have agreed to present additional, more specialized seminars; participate in graduate courses; and offer personal consultations, etc.

Past experience indicates that the informal scientific aspects of the Grass tours are often their most outstanding features. If you wish to maximize the availability of a speaker who is willing to make laboratory visits and consult informally with groups of faculty and students, you may wish to consider publicizing his/her schedule on bulletin boards, via e-mail, and in the campus newsletter.

HOW TO APPLY

The SfN Office makes available a Lecture Request Form twice a year for the spring and fall series, respectively.

1. Once the SfN Office has notified you that your chapter is eligible for a lecture, please contact your speaker of choice to arrange a lecture date.
   
   
2. As soon as a speaker and date has been confirmed, complete the Lecture Confirmation Form and send it to the SfN Office.

TRAVEL AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

The chapter is responsible for securing lodging, scheduling a lecture room, making hotel reservations for the lecturer, meeting the lecturer on arrival, etc.

NEW PROCEDURES

New for 2006, the Grass Traveling Scientist Program is no longer operating on a reimbursement basis.  Upon completion of the Lecture Confirmation Form, each chapter will receive a check for $1200.00.  $300.00 is to be used as an honorarium for the speaker.  This is an increase of ther previous amount of $150.00.  The remainder of the money is to be used for travel.  Should travel expenses total less than $900.00, chapters may use the remainder to supplement the honorarium or cover costs related to hosting the lecture.  Chapters are responsible for expenses exceeding $1200.00.


REPORT

As a condition for participating in the Grass Program, the chapter is required to provide the SfN office with a report within four weeks following the lecture.  The report should contain such items as the number of attendees, the overall response, etc.  SfN then furnishes this report to the Grass Foundation. The Grass Traveling Scientist Report Guide provides all of the information needed regarding reports.

LECTURER CANCELLATION

Chapters who apply for a Grass lecture have up to nine months from the date the chapter is notified that they are recipients of the award to turn in a Lecture Confirmation Form and have one year from this date to use the funds.  If a lecture confirmation form isn't received within nine months, the chapter must reapply to host a lecture.  If a chapter completes a Lecture Confirmation Form and receives a check, but the lecture does not take place, the chapter must reschedule the lecture within 90 days.  If the chapter is unable to reschedule or if the lecture is cancelled in its entirety, the chapter must return the full $1200.00 in the form of the original check or a check made payable to "The Society for Neuroscience."  The chapter will still have nine months from the issuance of the award to complete a new Lecture Confirmation Form.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All inquiries regarding the Grass Traveling Scientist Program should be directed to chapters@sfn.org or (202) 962-4000.  Please ask to speak with Emily Fishman, Chapters Coordinator.