Training Access to World-Renowned Experts Just a Few Clicks Away

SfN offers a wealth of digital content from experts across the field, all available on Neuronline, SfN’s home for learning and discussion. Ranging in topics from professional development to scientific training, Neuronline contains interviews, articles, webinars, videos, and access to virtual conferences for SfN members. Outlined below are some upcoming opportunities for live digital events and other new content available on-demand.

With a line-up of 16 scientists, lawyers, business and philosophy professors, book authors, and National Public Radio podcast hosts, as well as sessions that include “Creating Opportunities for Everyone,” “Diversifying the Pipeline,” and “Negotiation,” SfN’s virtual conference, Mitigating Implicit Bias: Tools for the Neuroscientist, January 23 and 24 is a must-see event. SfN members enjoy complimentary registration, while nonmembers are welcome to participate for a registration fee of $150.

During this interactive virtual conference — where attendees will have the chance to ask panelists questions and engage with other attendees in the networking lounge — speakers will explore the wide-ranging, complex, and multi-situational issues that stem from implicit bias and share how individuals and institutions can improve the status quo.

Attendees will come away with:

• Access to a toolkit of strategies to recognize biases.
• A greater understanding of implicit gender assumptions.
• An enhanced appreciation for different social identities.
• Methods to establish a culture of inclusion in the lab.
• Ways to develop better candidate evaluation.
• Strategies to improve the pipeline by retaining underrepresented individuals.

The speakers, which comprise virtual conference organizers Ione Fine, Alicia Izuierdo, and Yael Niv, as well as Mahzarin Banaji, Eula Scott Bynoe, Anne Churchland, Andrei Cimpian, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Daryl Davies, Cordelia Fine, Laura Kray, Carmen Maldonado-Vlaar, Ketema Paul, Andrea Schneider, and Jeannie Yandel, have designed a packed agenda and look forward to facilitating meaningful and candid discussion throughout the two-day conference January 23 and 24.

After tuning in to “Mitigating Implicit Bias,” look for news about registering for “From Behavior to Brain: The Neuroethological Way to Neuroscience” taking place on April 3, as well as upcoming conferences on machine learning in neuroscience (June) and iPS cells (September).

Virtual conferences allow participants to expand their training and knowledge through high-quality programming without the need to travel. As one past participant shared, “This sort of event should be mandatory training for everyone undertaking any neuroscience work,” and as another reflected, “The [virtual conferences] are fun and… useful.”

As part of its expanding digital-learning offerings, SfN holds virtual conferences throughout the year on scientific and professional development topics. From anywhere around the world, these online events can be accessed live or on demand and viewed individually or with a group of colleagues.

The past virtual conference Enhancing Rigor and Transparency in Neuroscience remains available as open-access content on Neuronline. Those who registered for the Next Generation Optogenetics: Tools and Applications conference, and anyone who wishes to register for it now, will be able to view it until March. Visit Neuronline to explore the full range of past and future virtual conferences.

Digital training series are another new feature of SfN’s online learning resources. Members benefit from unlimited access to training series content, while nonmembers can view up to five resources every 30 days as part of Neuronline’s staged access model.

The Optogenetics Training Series, originally published in August 2018, remains available on Neuronline. The series is comprised of eight modules with short lecture and demonstration videos, case studies, and recommended resource lists that provide foundational knowledge to use optogenetics techniques appropriately, effectively, and rigorously.

As one member shared about the content: “I was so happy to see neuroscience education and outreach involved in this series. Thank you for showing that you don't need to be an expert in optogenetics to be able to use them as tools for teaching neuroscience.”

The 2019 scientific training series on iPS cells will be launched later this year ahead of the related virtual conference in September.

SfN regularly hosts webinars for members at different training and career stages. These online events are short, with presentations and Q&As featuring experts on professional development, advocacy, and scientific training topics. They can be watched live or on demand.

Explore recent webinars, such as:

• Evolution of Neuroscience Graduate Programs: Meeting the Needs of 21st Century Trainees.
• Demystifying the Funding Process for Fellowship and Career Development Awards.
• Measuring Advocacy Outcomes.

Bookmark Neuronline’s Online Event Calendar to see the latest virtual conferences, training series, and webinars. The Society’s leadership is excited to provide global neuroscientists these training opportunities — and hopes all members take advantage. Join SfN or renew your membership today to gain full access to resources that will help you grow in your training and career.