SfN Council Prepares for Next Strategic Plan
SfN’s Council held its summer meeting in Los Angeles on July 27–28. Key areas of focus included updates on planning for Neuroscience 2026, reviewing SfN’s finances, and a series of stage-setting discussions to help launch a Council-led strategic visioning and planning process over the next 12 months.
Council heard an update on the Society’s current financial status and approved an updated budget for FY 2027. Council reviewed multiyear planning targets designed to ensure the Society’s continued financial health, which also serve as a point of reference and basis to help inform strategic, forward-looking discussions. Council also approved a slate of recommendations developed by the Committee on Committees for incoming committee chairs.
Through a series of sessions facilitated by outside advisors, Council reviewed key organizational data and trends and began exploring opportunities for SfN’s future. Small-group and full Council discussions identified areas for further consideration as the strategic visioning and planning process takes shape. To guide this work, Council voted to establish a task force comprising current officers and councilors. Working with staff and outside advisors, the task force will draw on a wide range of voices, experiences, and perspectives across SfN and the broader global neuroscience community to inform the Society’s next strategic plan.
Finally, Council received an update on Neuroscience 2026 abstract submission numbers and plans for new initiatives at the meeting. SfN received abstract submissions from 73 countries during the regular submission period. Of the submitters, 79% intended to present only in person, 2% only virtually, and 19% in both formats. Of all submissions, 74% came from within the U.S., while 26% came from outside the U.S. The Program Committee has adopted several new initiatives for the annual meeting designed to facilitate connections between attendees including via enhancements within the Neuroscience 2026 Mobile App.
