Future Meeting Venues: From SfN President Larry Swanson

On behalf of my colleagues on the SfN Council, I want to acknowledge those SfN members who have communicated their views through a petition and letters regarding the Society’s decision on future annual meeting locations. 

As indicated in SfN’s original announcement posted on the website in December, Council weighed the merits and issues of New Orleans as an annual meeting venue, and fully considered the benefits and the risks. The discussion and decision were thoughtful, and Council understood when it made the decision not to return to New Orleans that not all members would agree with or be happy about its decision. Nonetheless, we respect our members’ right to disagree and express their opinions. While all of us on the Council share appreciation for many of New Orleans’ attributes, we firmly believe that the decision we made is in the overall best interests of the Society given the critical importance of successfully having the meeting each year to promote scientific exchange in the neuroscience field. 

As a result of the decision, firm commitments have been made to hold the annual meeting in Chicago every three years for the foreseeable future. Visit the Annual Meeting section of the site to see the schedule of future meetings. I want to thank all the members who made their opinions and feelings known, and the Society looks forward to continuing to serve all of you and the whole neuroscience field with an annual meeting that creates an unmatched venue for scientific exchange, networking, and learning.   

Larry Swanson
SfN President