Neuroscience 2013 Offers Opportunities to Learn, Connect
Neuroscience 2013 in San Diego is fast approaching and registration is now open. The world’s largest gathering of neuroscientists, the annual meeting features presentations from top scientists and experts in the field. This year’s program offers new, innovative ways to connect with peers and share and advance great science.
Focus on Creativity
Discussion of creativity will be the focus of remarks by Ed Catmull, president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and featured speaker for the Dialogues Between Neuroscience and Society session. He will address the complex reality of creativity, including the need for structure in producing art, the balance between art and technology, and the role of culture in the creation of new ideas. Catmull suggests that hidden barriers exist that impede creativity and candor, and those challenges must be overcome so that creative ideas can flourish. The Dialogues lecture is scheduled for Saturday, November 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Highlighting the Functional Connectome
The Neuroscience 2013 Presidential Special Lecture Series features a variety of presentations that advance research related to the connectome, a comprehensive map of neural connections in the brain. This year’s lecturers will discuss the C. elegans functional connectome; the functional connectome of Drosophila, the mouse connectome; and the systems organization of the monkey-human cerebral cortex. Scott W. Emmons of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine will speak about how the connectome of the roundworm C. elegans reveals the neural pathways that underlie its voluntary behavior. Gerald M. Rubin of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute will address the workings of the nervous system that allow for the manipulation of individual neuron types. Jeff Lichtman of Harvard University will probe the connectional maps of the brain and their value in functions when subsets of neurons are compromised. Doris Tsao of the California Institute of Technology will delve into the method by which the brain processes a representation of objects from retinal input. The series will run Saturday through Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. during the meeting.
Learn, Network, and Advance Your Career
The annual meeting provides unparalleled opportunities for neuroscientists to engage in professional training, career development, and networking.
In addition to 52 scientific symposia and minisymposia, this year features a Neurobiology of Disease Workshop on “Human Disorders in a Dish: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of Disease” and two short courses highlighting “Chemo and Optigenetics: Light and Chemical Control of Neuronal Circuits” and “The Science of Large Data Sets: Spikes, Fields, and Voxels.” A wide range of professional and career development offerings include the popular Meet-the-Expert series, mentoring roundtables on career-related topics, and workshops on career paths, grant funding, and much more. These sessions and workshops provide opportunities for neuroscientists at various stages of their careers to network, receive guidance, and learn how to develop their skills. For more information on these and other events, log on to SfN.org/workshops.
For undergraduate student looking to explore their next training move, the second annual Graduate School Fair provides an opportunity to meet face-to-face with graduate neuroscience departments and programs. Visit SfN.org/workshops for more information about attending and exhibiting at the Graduate School Fair.
Many of the symposia, minisymposia, and lectures taking place at Neuroscience 2013 are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and may serve as continuing medical education credit opportunities for physicians in the field.
Bringing Technology and New Media to Neuroscience 2013
SfN invites all meeting attendees and the public to get involved with social media during the annual meeting. You can follow the official meeting Twitter account, @Neurosci2013, and use the meeting’s hashtag, #SfN13, to comment on what you are seeing, hearing, and learning in real time. You will also receive social media updates from SfN, letting you know about programs and developments throughout the meeting. SfN members are also encouraged to connect with peers and other attendees through Neuronline, the Society’s official online member community. Find a topic of interest being discussed at the meeting or create one of your own.
Official meeting bloggers are being selected to provide fresh perspectives to the public on each of the meeting themes. Find out how to become a meeting blogger at SfN.org, and contribute to the Neuroscience 2013 buzz.
Advanced, user-friendly applications help you plan your Neuroscience 2013 experience. The mobile meeting app and online Neuroscience Meeting Planner will allow attendees to navigate sessions, create personalized itineraries, and read full-text abstracts. Exhibitor details will also be available in the mobile app and My Neuroscience Marketplace online. These tools will become available closer to the meeting.
This year, the meeting will feature 90 dynamic poster presentations that bring neuroscience to life. These interactive displays will feature multimedia content including videos, slideshows, and animations, and provide the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with scientists. SfN encourages members to explore ways to share cutting-edge discoveries with one another and the public through dynamic posters, social media, and other outreach that supports the exciting work of SfN members and the field.
