In memory of Cal Shearer
21st November 2024
About Us
A vibrant, forward-thinking community of neuroscientists, making connections across the sector to help define and deliver the future of neuroscience.
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) is the largest UK organisation connecting, representing and promoting neuroscience and neuroscientists across the globe.
The BNA is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive cross-sector neuroscience community – bringing together academia, industry, the clinic and wider society – and moving world-class neuroscience research up the agenda.
With over 3,000 members, we represent neuroscientists and allied professionals whose interests cover the whole range of neuroscience and its related fields, from ion channels to whole animal behaviour to real-life applications in the clinic and beyond.
“The BNA is the organisation that brings together people from different disciplines who wouldn't otherwise talk to each other.”
Professor Dame Uta Frith, 2013 Winner of the BNA's Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award.
Professor Dame Uta Frith, 2013 Winner of the BNA's Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award.
OUR CORE VALUES
We make connections between individuals, academia, industry, clinicians, medical charities, policy-makers, funding agencies and wider society through our three core values to inform, connect and influence:
INFORM - We inform by:
- advising on issues in neuroscience, in health and disease
- raising awareness of neuroscience research - what it is, how it's done, and its importance and relevance for everyone
- owning and running a Gold Open Access journal, Brain and Neuroscience Advances, with high quality neuroscience information freely available to everyone
- engaging with the public, people with lived experience, and members of the press
- providing information and support to our members in their research and careers
- through a variety of communications and media platforms
CONNECT - We are making connections:
- to build friendships, collaborations and networks
- across all of areas of neuroscience, from ion channels to human behaviour
- between industry, academia and the clinic
- between neuroscientists and wider society, including journalists, politicians, and people with lived experience
- to create a strong UK-based neuroscience community
- from UK neuroscientists to colleagues in Europe and across the world
INFLUENCE - We influence at different levels, including:
- championing neuroscience to Government, funding agencies, and science administration and regulatory organisations
- members organising through self-directed BNA Local Groups to meet their communities' own needs and interests
- representing UK neuroscience both nationally and internationally
- improving the equity, diversity and inclusion of the neuroscience sector
- recognising and celebrating neuroscience through awards and prizes
- encouraging the growth and uptake of neuroscience as a career
OUR PRIORITY AREAS
SECTOR DEVELOPMENT - For example
- our UK policy and advocacy work
- 'Credibility in Neuroscience' campaign
- our 'Building Bridges Between: Industry and Academia' initiative
- Green Neuroscience - promoting the environmental sustainability of the sector
- providing training and Continuing Professional Development opportunities
- having a journal at the forefront of credible publishing practices, Brain and Neuroscience Advances
COMMUNITY BUILDING - For example
- first and foremost, through our BNA community - come and join us!
- a full and varied calendar of opportunities to meet each other, online and in-person
- providing bursaries and grants to support all members of the neuroscience community
- our Local Groups network across the UK and Ireland
- being part of the international neuroscience community, in particular the Federation of European Neurosciences, and the International Brain Research Organisation
INCLUSION
- our BNA Scholars Programme for under-represented ethnic groups in neuroscience
- BNA-Brain Carer Grants, to support those with any kind of caring responsibilities
- a requirement that ~25% of all speakers at the Festivals of Neuroscience are students or Early Career Researchers
- an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy that ensures all BNA activities, and those we endorse, meet minimum standards such as having at least 1/3 non-male speakers in events, and a Safer Spaces policy to make sure all activites are welcoming and inclusive
- creating anti-racist neuroscience resources for everyone in neuroscience to use
CAREERS
- comprehensive careers advice, events and resources, including examples of career pathways within and beyond neuroscience
- talent acquisition opportunities
- up-to-date jobs board
- bursaries, grants and prizes
- networking events, e.g. Speed-dating for Careers
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and training
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Some examples of where and how the BNA is making a difference in neuroscience (and beyond):
The International Festivals of Neuroscience
This unique event brings together 20+ organisations and 1,200 people+, features all areas of fundamental research in neuroscience and psychology, from both academia and the commercial sector, plus clinical expertise in neurology and psychiatry, at a single, shared celebration of global neuroscience - PLUS a programme of public events too. There's literally nothing else like it!
See more about the BNA2023, BNA2021, BNA2019, BNA2017, BNA2015 and BNA2013 Festivals.
A growing community
The BNA community has over 3,000 members – a total which has more than doubled over the last 6 years. There's something for everyone, including those who don't work in neuroscience in a professional capacity but are fascinated in the brain and nervous system. Don't wait to become part of your community: join us today.
Pioneering preregistration posters
The BNA was the first ever organisation to have prereg posters at a large international meeting - and, moreover, to evaluate their effectiveness in a study subsequently published in Nature Human Behaviour. An ever-increasing number of organisations are now adopting prereg posters, where researchers have the chance to discuss their plans for research rather than the results, at their own meetings and events.
Bringing together industry and academia
The BNA's 'BBB' initiative, 'Building Bridges Between: Industry and Academia', has created an extensive network of organisations and individuals all working together to promote research development in its most efficient form, create career pathways, and improve the impact of neuroscience. An example outcome of BBB is creating the 'Guiding Principles for Robust Target Validation in Psychiatry' publication.
The BNA Scholars Programme
Launched in direct response to the neuroscience community on how to improve inclusion of underrepresented ethnic groups, the BNA Scholars Programme support students and early career researchers to thrive in neuroscience, and to build a supportive community through networking opportunities, bursaries and mentorship. It has turned into an examplar programme and is having wide-reaching impact across the sector.
Green Neuroscience
Recognising that, "to help society create a survivable future, we neuroscientists can and must play our part"1, the BNA Green Neuroscience Working Group is actively changing the way the BNA works, the environmental impact of neuroscience research itself, and supporting individuals to make changes themselves, for instance through offering 'Train over Plane' green travel bursaries.