Annual Meeting Session Types
- Albert and Ellen Grass Lecture
- Animals in Research Panel
- Basic-Translational-Clinical Roundtables
- Celebration of Women in Neuroscience
- David Kopf Lecture on Neuroethics
- Dialogues Between Neuroscience and Society Lecture
- Dual Perspectives
- History of Neuroscience Lecture
- Meet-the-Expert and Meet-the-Clinician-Expert Series
- Meet-Ups
- Minisymposia
- Nanosymposia
- Peter and Patricia Gruber Lecture
- Presidential Special Lecture
- Professional Development Workshops
- Public Advocacy Forum
- Satellite Events
- Scientific and Theme J Poster Sessions
- SfN-Sponsored Socials
- Short Courses
- Social Issues Roundtable
- Special Lectures
- Storytelling Session
- Symposia
Albert and Ellen Grass Lecture
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: The Grass Lecture is delivered by scientists, selected by members of the Program Committee, who have made significant contributions to the field of neuroscience. The speaker addresses educationally significant topics and groundbreaking, clinically relevant research.
Format: Talk followed by an informal Q&A; the lecture is preceded by the presentation of several high profile awards.
Animals in Research Panel
Audience: Open to the public.
Topic Focus: The Animals in Research Panel is selected by the chair of SfN's Committee on Animals in Research and aims to raise public support for the responsible use of animals in research through education and advocacy. The panel highlights the importance of animal research to continually advance the field of neuroscience and provide meaningful health outcomes for people and animals around the world.
Format: Panel presentation followed by an informal Q&A.
Basic-Translational-Clinical Roundtables
Audience: Clinician-scientists at all levels. Students in MD-PhD programs and PhD programs involved in disease-oriented research.
Topic Focus: The roundtables integrate basic, translational, and clinical aspects of a disease or disorder with particular emphasis on new developments, controversies, or updates. The program is designed to stimulate debate. Roundtables are selected by the Program Committee from proposals submitted by members.
Format: Short introductory talks from a panel of four speakers, followed by a panel discussion.
Celebration of Women in Neuroscience
Audience: All annual meeting attendees are encouraged to register to attend this complimentary event.
Topic Focus: The Celebration of Women in Neuroscience is an event that champions and celebrates the role of women in neuroscience and aims to generate valuable discussion about ways to make even greater strides for women in the field. The event is organized by the Professional Development Committee's Diversity and Inclusion Programs Subcommittee.
Format: The event begins with the presentation of several achievement awards recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women in neuroscience. After, there is a presentation featuring accomplished women in the field.
David Kopf Lecture on Neuroethics
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: The Lecture on Neuroethics is delivered by esteemed speakers, selected by the Program Committee, who have made contributions in promoting ethics in neuroscience.
Format: Talk followed by an informal Q&A.
Dialogues Between Neuroscience and Society Lecture
Audience: Open to the public.
Topic Focus: The Dialogues Lecture is selected by the SfN President and integrates neuroscience with a popular societal issue or interest.
Format: Past presentations have explored the relationship between neuroscience and creativity, financial behaviors, and improvisation.
Dual Perspectives
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: The Dual Perspectives session serves as a platform for annual meeting attendees to learn about the history of as well as various arguments, research, and viewpoints surrounding a particular hot topic in neuroscience. Dual Perspectives sessions are selected by the Program Committee from proposals submitted by members.
Format: Two to three key figures in neuroscience participate in a friendly discussion where they present differing but complementary views on a particular topic. A moderator knowledgeable on the subject matter asks pointed questions and ensures that the session provides information on how the field developed over time to arrive at the current understanding.
History of Neuroscience Lecture
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: The History of Neuroscience Lecture is selected by the Program Committee and delivered by esteemed speakers who have made a considerable contribution to the field of neuroscience and can speak to changes in the field over time.
Format: Talk followed by an informal Q&A.
Meet-the-Expert and Meet-the-Clinician-Expert Series
Audience: Students and postdoctoral researchers.
Topic Focus: Experts describe their research techniques and accomplishments in a personal context that offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at factors influencing the expert's work. Meet-the-Clinician-Expert sessions highlight clinical interests. Participants are selected by the Program Committee.
Format: Part talk; part Q&A
Meet-Ups
Audience: Open to all registered meeting attendees.
Topic Focus: No SfN-fee required informal social events organized by SfN members, for other individuals that share a common interest.
Format: Meet-ups can take place virtually or in-person at a local venue of the organizer’s choosing.
Minisymposia
Audience: Researchers at all career levels are encouraged to attend. Speakers are typically junior investigators.
Topic Focus: Minisymposia focus on advances or present conflicting views in rapidly developing areas of neuroscience. Topics fall under one of SfN's scientific themes A–I. Minisymposia are selected by the Program Committee from proposals submitted by members.
Format: A minisymposium accommodates six speakers.
Nanosymposia
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: Nanosymposia offer abstract submitters an innovative way to create and propose a slide-based oral presentation. Topics fall under one of SfN's scientific themes A–I.
Format: A nanosymposium consists of abstracts from multiple labs with a common topical focus.
Peter and Patricia Gruber Lecture
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: Scientists speak on major discoveries that have advanced the understanding of the nervous system. Scientists selected to speak have produced groundbreaking work that has inspired and enabled fundamental shifts in knowledge and culture, producing a profound impact on our lives. Lecture is delivered by the winner(s) of the Gruber Neuroscience Prize as selected by the Gruber Foundation.
Format: Talk followed by an informal Q&A; the lecture is preceded by the presentation of several high-profile awards.
Presidential Special Lecture
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: Presidential Special Lectures are selected by the SfN President, with lectures stemming from their area of study.
Format: Talk followed by an informal Q&A; the lecture is preceded by the presentation of several high-profile awards.
Professional Development Workshops
Audience: Scientists at all career stages. Some workshops in particular will be helpful for students or early-career scientists.
Topic Focus: Professional Development Workshops feature a panel of expert speakers and provide invaluable networking and career development opportunities. Workshops are selected from proposals submitted to the Professional Development Committee.
Format: A panel of speakers discussing topics such as funding, career skills, networking, and education.
Public Advocacy Forum
Audience: Open to the public.
Topic Focus: The Public Advocacy Forum is selected by the chair of SfN’s Government and Public Affairs Committee and aims to highlight neuroscience advocacy efforts in a variety of contexts, to advance general knowledge and support of the field.
Format: Panel presentation followed by an informal Q&A.
Satellite Events
Audience: Open to all.
Topic Focus: Satellite events are submitted through SfN.org and approved by the Program Committee. Events are scheduled in conjunction with the annual meeting. These events are not sponsored by the Society for Neuroscience. The events must have some neuroscience content or relevance.
Format: Can be symposia, social events, or meetings; length varies depending on the satellite organizer.
Scientific and Theme J Poster Sessions
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: Poster sessions at SfN's annual meeting allow for the casual exchange of key scientific breakthroughs and emerging innovations within the neuroscience field. During each poster session, presenters and attendees have the opportunity to connect with leading researchers from around the world. Poster sessions cover topics from SfN's scientific themes A–I as well as nonscientific Theme J, History, Education, and Society.
Format: Abstracts are submitted by SfN members and reviewed by the Program Committee. Accepted abstracts from similar themes and topics are grouped together into poster sessions.
SfN-Sponsored Socials
Audience: Researchers at all career levels; students and junior scientists are especially encouraged to attend for networking opportunities.
Topic Focus: SfN-Sponsored Socials are designed to provide an opportunity for all annual meeting attendees to meet informally with others who share common scientific interests. They are intended as social and networking occasions around neuroscience topics or issues. Socials are selected by the Program Committee from proposals submitted by members.
Format: A purely social gathering or social gathering with a brief presentation; designed to encourage networking between junior and senior scientists.
Short Courses
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: Short Courses are chosen by members of SfN's Neuroscience Training Committee and provide an immersive learning experience from leaders in the field on various trending topics in neuroscience.
Format: These courses take place at the annual meeting venue, and you must register to attend.
Social Issues Roundtable
Audience: Any person attending the meeting who has an interest in how neuroscience research interfaces with society, especially in the area of focus for that given year’s topic.
Topic Focus: The intersection of neuroscience research and society and how our understanding of these issues may impact the public at large. Proposals are submitted by membership and selected by SfN’s Public Education and Communication Committee.
Format: Panel that includes a Q&A.
Special Lectures
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: The special lectures are selected by the Program Committee and focus on educationally-significant topics and groundbreaking, clinically-relevant research.
Format: Talk, followed by an informal Q&A.
Storytelling Session
Audience: Researchers at all career levels.
Topic Focus: The Storytelling Session invites a panel of speakers to tell inspiring stories about their personal experiences, the impact that such experiences have had on their career in neuroscience, and how to communicate stories within and beyond the scientific community. Sessions are selected by the Program Committee from proposals submitted by members.
Format: A panel of speakers give presentations demonstrating the role of storytelling in the scientific community.
Symposia
Audience: Researchers at all career levels are welcome to attend; top researchers are typically selected as speakers.
Topic Focus: Symposia focus on advances or present conflicting views in rapidly developing areas or neuroscience. Topics fall under one of SfN's scientific themes A–I. Symposia are selected by the Program Committee from proposals submitted by members.
Format: Each symposium comprises four speakers.
