Vision

The WWN Executive Committee strongly believes that there are still many disparities with regards to women in the neurosciences and sees the need to incorporate women at all levels of the scientific research enterprise. WWN’s activities have promoted equality and addressed gender and minority bias within the varying regional needs and cultural traditions of women neuroscientists across the world. Our vision is an improved environment for career advancement in neuroscience for women in all regions of the world.

January usually brings a feeling of fresh beginnings and diving into exciting new chapters. While the new year is always a great chance to take stock of what’s ahead, I find the vision forward is best informed by a thoughtful look into the rearview mirror. In this first 2023 issue of our WWN newsletter, I take the opportunity to share some thoughts on my personal vision for WWN. It has been my longstanding conviction that mentoring, and networking are critical components for success in science. I am grateful that both in my academic and federal government careers, I have been able to provide opportunities for collegial interactions that offer encouragement, guidance, and role models to impact professional development for scientists at all career stages. This commitment extends to my activities as Chair of World Women in Neuroscience where along with dedicated colleagues I am privileged to support and promote opportunities for career advancement of neuroscientists across the globe, with an emphasis on under resourced countries.

Much of what energizes me as I look at the year ahead are the efforts and accomplishments from 2022 that we can continue building on, including: 

• WWN Corporation attaining 501 © (3) status
• Implementing a process for project-based partnerships with IBRO, and the ALBA network
• Sponsoring seven Mentoring Circles  with our growing list of collaborators (IBRO, the ALBA network, SONA,FENS, PASBAN, FALAN, the Women of Neuroscience Nigeria, and the Cameroon Association for Neuroscience)
• Developing a web-based Mentoring platform for WWN mentoring programs
• Launching our quarterly newsletter 

I am thrilled to usher 2023 with exciting plans to broaden WWN’s reach and initiate collaborations with neuroscientists in the Netherlands, India, and Israel. There is much to do, and I am looking forward to working with the dedicated WWN Executive Committee members,  staff and partners to continue this important work. Our “Meet & Greet” sessions will start in late January; Beta-testing of our mentoring platform is scheduled for early February; Plans are well underway for our WWN sessions at SONA, the IBRO Congress, SFN and others national and international venues.

Our thoughtful and robust discussions during our SFN 2022 business meeting identified a range of important issues ranging from strategic research initiatives, systemic cultural changes, and economic stability for WWN. So, I am ready to roll up my sleeves and joyfully give back to my community. “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw something back ” – Maya Angelou.