Activities

For the period of 2015, WWN subcommittees developed and implemented numerous initiatives and activities. WWN expanded its global outreach efforts and received requests throughout the year from IBRO members wishing to become members of WWN. Our past “Mentoring Circle” and our mentoring event at FENS 2014 have steadily increased our membership. We also formed strategic partnerships with the Society for Neuroscience, the Federation of the American Society of Experimental Biology (FASEB), and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS). 

For 2015, the committee was gratified to receive a number of excellent proposals spanning activities in many regions of the world including Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Europe. The following activities were funded in 2015:

• India – Women in Neuroscience Symposium in India – Opportunities and Challenges 
• South Africa – WWN Science Policy Symposium at SONA 2015 – Potential Impact of Implicit Bias on Research Needs and Priorities in Africa
• Chicago– Workshop at the 2015 SfN meeting titled “WWN Mentoring Circles to increase collaborations, networking and careers in Neuroscience” in Chicago, USA. This Mentoring Circle also features a presentation on Scientific Writing titled: “Writing Scientific Articles – Strategies and Steps” by Dr. Pamela Butler from New York University
• South Africa – Women in Neuroscience Workshop in SONA 2015: Scientific Achievements – The Impact of Mentoring, Setting Expectations and Lessening Tension between Family and Career
• Canada – “Social Media as a Tool to Broaden Mentoring and Collaborative Opportunities”. This Seminar Series is focused on Mentoring Strategies, Best Practices for Developing Collaborations and Capitalizing on International Funding Opportunities through Social Media
•  Pakistan – Meeting on Psycho-Social Neuroscience of Well Being for Women. This meeting was intended to engage the international community on the status of mental health, stigma and stress of women in Pakistan
• Brazil 2015 IBRO Congress – “Functional Approaches to Increase Collaborations and Strengthen Networks”. The event includes a Funding Workshop and a Mentoring/Networking Circle.
• Barbados & Dominica – “WWN Peer Mentoring Program – Caribbean Focus”. This initiative leveraged a three day NIH sponsored Workshop in Barbados focused on Research Capacity Building in the Caribbean. Networking for follow-up WWN activities in Dominica are established with Ministry of Health and Ross University Medical School.
• Egypt – “Workshop on Stem Cell and Neurodegenerative Disorders”. This meeting leverages the 2015 Global Advances in Toxicology meeting and allowed for participation of junior female scientists.
• Nigeria – Collaborative Research Network (CRNP)