Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
Encyclopedia
The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) is an international federation of scientific societies for basic scientists and physicians whose research is focused on the brain and nervous system.
an level, the research of members of national and international European neuroscience
societies created in the previous 25 years. It succeeded the European Neuroscience Association, an earlier attempt to federate individual European scientists. The FENS federates existing societies which today number 35, and whose membership totals around 18 000 scientists.
, 1998; Brighton
, 2000; Paris
, 2002 ; Lisbon
, 2004; Vienna
, 2006; Geneva
, 2008; Amsterdam
, 2010), and bring together around 5000 participants.
The FENS promotes education in the neurosciences through the Network of European Neuroscience Schools (NENS) and an annual series of lecture-based and practical training courses, the Summer and Winter Schools, organised for graduate students and early career researchers. The FENS also participates every year in the Brain Awareness Week together with the European Dana Alliance for the Brain (EDAB), which is held simultaneously all over Europe during the same week in March, with a view to promoting public understanding of issues raised by neuroscience research.
History
The FENS was founded in 1998 to coordinate and present, at the EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an level, the research of members of national and international European neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
societies created in the previous 25 years. It succeeded the European Neuroscience Association, an earlier attempt to federate individual European scientists. The FENS federates existing societies which today number 35, and whose membership totals around 18 000 scientists.
Missions
As a Federation, its purposes are- to promote coordination between its member societies in order to develop neuroscienceNeuroscienceNeuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
research in their respective countries and disciplines - to facilitate interaction between neuroscientists from all over the world, particularly Europe, by holding scientific meetings
- to facilitate the diffusion of scientific information by the publication of a scientific journal (The European Journal of Neuroscience), and other electronic communications
- to support the education and training of young researchers in neuroscience by delivering information, organising schools and other training programmes, and providing grants for young scientists
- to promote public understanding and engagement in neuroscience and to advise decision-makers on the results and implications of neuroscience research
Activities
The FENS organises an international scientific meeting every two years, the FENS Forum of European Neuroscience, which is open to scientists from all over the world. Every meeting takes place in a different European country hosted by its national neuroscience society (BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 1998; Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, 2000; Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 2002 ; Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, 2004; Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 2006; Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 2008; Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, 2010), and bring together around 5000 participants.
The FENS promotes education in the neurosciences through the Network of European Neuroscience Schools (NENS) and an annual series of lecture-based and practical training courses, the Summer and Winter Schools, organised for graduate students and early career researchers. The FENS also participates every year in the Brain Awareness Week together with the European Dana Alliance for the Brain (EDAB), which is held simultaneously all over Europe during the same week in March, with a view to promoting public understanding of issues raised by neuroscience research.
Publications
The FENS publishes:- The European Journal of NeuroscienceEuropean Journal of NeuroscienceThe European Journal of Neuroscience is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of developmental, molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, and cognitive neuroscience. It was established in 1989 and is currently edited by Jean-Marc Fritschy and Martin Sarter. The journal is published by the...
, a monthly peer-reviewedPeer reviewPeer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
scientific journalScientific journalIn academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
. - FENS Forum Abstracts, proceedings of the FENS Forums of European Neuroscience.