Society for Neuroscience
Encyclopedia
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is a professional society, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
, for basic scientists and physicians around the world whose research
is focused on the study of the brain
and nervous system
.
and, at more than 40,000 members, has grown to be the largest neuroscience
society in the world. The stated mission
of the society is to:
The Society publishes a weekly peer review
ed, journal
—The Journal of Neuroscience
—which covers all subdisciplines of the field.
, and nervous system. More than 15,500 presentations were given, including 12 special lectures, 21 symposia, and 25 mini-symposia, covering research ranging from single molecule
s to human behavior
.
Future annual meetings are scheduled for Washington, DC, November 12–16, 2011; and New Orleans, LA, October 13–17, 2012.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, for basic scientists and physicians around the world whose research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
is focused on the study of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
and nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
.
History
SfN was founded in 1969 by Ralph W. GerardRalph W. Gerard
Ralph Waldo Gerard was an American neurophysiologist and behavioral scientist known for his wide-ranging work on the nervous system, nerve metabolism, psychopharmacology, and biological basis of schizophrenia.-Biography:...
and, at more than 40,000 members, has grown to be the largest 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,...
society in the world. The stated mission
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
of the society is to:
- Advance the understanding of the brain and the nervous system.
- Provide professional development activities, information, and educational resources.
- Promote public information and general education about science and neuroscience.
- Inform legislators and other policy makers about the implications of research for public policy, societal benefit, and continued scientific progress.
The Society publishes a weekly peer review
Peer review
Peer 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...
ed, journal
Scientific journal
In 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...
—The Journal of Neuroscience
Journal of Neuroscience
The Journal of Neuroscience is a weekly scientific journal published by the Society for Neuroscience. The journal publishes peer-reviewed empirical research articles in the field of neuroscience...
—which covers all subdisciplines of the field.
Annual meeting
The Society holds an annual meeting that is attended by scientists from around the world. Neuroscience 2008 in Washington, DC represented 38 years as a leading organization for the study of the brain and nervous system. Over 31,000 people from across the globe gathered to exchange ideas about the latest discoveries and research on the brain, spinal cordSpinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
, and nervous system. More than 15,500 presentations were given, including 12 special lectures, 21 symposia, and 25 mini-symposia, covering research ranging from single molecule
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
s to human behavior
Behavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
.
Future annual meetings are scheduled for Washington, DC, November 12–16, 2011; and New Orleans, LA, October 13–17, 2012.
Past meetings
The first annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held in Washington, D.C. in 1971, was attended by 1,396 scientists. Subsequent meetings have been held in a variety of cities throughout the USA except for the 1988 meeting, which was held in Canada. A selection of recent meetings are summarized in the table.| Year | Dates | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | November 4–9 | New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population... |
25,849 |
| 2001 | November 10–15 | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
28,774 |
| 2002 | November 2–7 | Orlando, Florida Orlando, Florida Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States... |
25,781 |
| 2003 | November 8–12 | New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population... |
28,778 |
| 2004 | October 23–27 | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
31,458 |
| 2005 | November 11–16 | Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... |
34,815 |
| 2006 | October 14–18 | Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... |
25,785 |
| 2007 | November 3–7 | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
32,180 |
| 2008 | November 15–19 | Washington, DC | 31,652 |
| 2009 | October 17–21 | Chicago, Illinois | 30,547 |
| 2010 | November 13–17 | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
31,975 |
See also
|
Eve Marder Eve Marder is an American neuroscientist. She is a Professor of Biology and Chair of the Biology Department at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts... (SfN President 2007-08). Bruce McEwen Bruce McEwen is the Alfred E. Mirsky professor of neuroscience and runs the Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at Rockefeller University.-Career:... (SfN President 1996-97). Vernon Mountcastle Vernon Benjamin Mountcastle is Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University.He discovered and characterized the columnar organization of the cerebral cortex in the 1950s... (SfN President 1970-71). Walle Nauta Dr. Walle J. H. Nauta was a leading neuroscientist. Nauta was born in 1916 in Medan, Dutch East Indies. He was an Institute Professor at MIT.... (SfN President 1972-73). Carla J. Shatz Carla J. Shatz, Ph.D., is an American neurobiologist and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine.... (SfN President 1994-95). Solomon H. Snyder Solomon H. Snyder is an American neuroscientist.Snyder attended Georgetown University 1955-1958 and received his MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1962. After medical internship at the Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco, he served as a research associate 1963-1965 at the NIH,... (SfN President 1979-80). Torsten Wiesel Torsten Nils Wiesel was a Swedish co-recipient with David H. Hubel of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, for their discoveries concerning information processing in the visual system; the prize was shared with Roger W... (SfN President 1978-79). |