SfN Endorses March for Science, Encourages Members to Engage in Affiliated Local Events
Society for Neuroscience (SfN) President Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, released the following statement providing the Society’s endorsement of the March for Science on April 22 in Washington, DC. SfN is the world’s largest organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of the brain and nervous system.
“Given the essential role of science and scientific exchange to human progress, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) enthusiastically joins with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and other scientific societies in endorsing the ‘March for Science’ taking place on April 22 in Washington, DC, and in locations around the world. We encourage SfN members in the U.S. and worldwide to participate in these events and to reinforce the central role of science to improve our health and lives and support sound policymaking.
SfN’s participation in the March for Science was approved unanimously by the SfN Council after a thoughtful and robust discussion. The Council believes that support for the March is consistent with the Society’s founding principles, which include promoting the essentiality of open exchange of scientific ideas and global scientific collaboration, the importance of evidence and experimental data as a foundation for decision-making, and nonpartisan advocacy for sustained, robust funding for science. SfN remains deeply committed to supporting, engaging, and welcoming diverse voices and alliances among scientists of all nationalities. Those are the principles for which our scientific colleagues will be marching on April 22.
Every day, neuroscientists work to understand the brain, the most complex biological structure in the known universe, and seek better treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders that affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide. For SfN and its members, endorsement of and participation in the March for Science reinforces that sustained investment in biomedical and basic research is essential for both a healthy population and economic vitality, in the U.S. and in nations around the world. This success depends on an ardent commitment to scientific research in the U.S., working in effective partnership with the research community around the world. ”
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is an organization of 37,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system. Learn more about SfN advocacy priorities surrounding research funding. For more information on brain science go to BrainFacts.org.
