Launch of BNA Special Interest Groups

19th Jan 2017

We are launching BNA Special Interest Groups (SIGs)!

The specific purpose of SIGs is that they enable our members to benefit from being part of a larger community by connecting with others of a shared interest. This can be in a scientific field of study (e.g. neurodegenerative disease) or subject of shared interest/concern (e.g. REF, undergraduate teaching, European funding). 

More generally, SIGs will help to further our charitable objects, which can be summarised as "To preserve and protect health and advance public education in neurosciences related to health and disease". 

SIGs exist to enable:

• Sharing of information, concerns and experience on defined topics (e.g. pain, electrophysiology, outreach, neuroethics)
• Identification of specific activity and/or extra information on that topic for the benefit of BNA members, to update and inform the wider BNA membership
• Advancing the SIG’s area of interest itself, e.g. teaching, epilepsy or synaptic physiology, to the benefit of neuroscience as a whole
• Producing accessible and up to date information on the topic which is suitable for a wider audience (BNA Associate Membership) to increase public awareness and understanding of neuroscience research 

The structure of SIGs:

• Chair of SIGs group must be a BNA member who is keen to take an active lead in developing a successful and useful BNA SIG 
• SIGs should have at least 12 members, who are members of the BNA
• SIGs must have a geographical spread by the members coming from at least 3 BNA local groups or (for areas without local groups) university/location.
• SIGs are not currently open to Associate members

Responsibilities of SIGs:

• Chair must complete and submit the SIG application form to the BNA council
• Each SIG meeting must be minuted and these made available to the BNA council and membership
• Create a brief report to be circulated to a wider membership at least yearly
• SIG must produce a brie summary of its area of interest for Associated members and the wider public
• Must maintain its webpage on the BNA website

The BNA will support SIGs in these ways:

• To help identify and set up groups
• Help arrange first meeting of a new SIG
• Meetings should ideally be hosted by a member institution, but the BNA can offer up to £500 to support the initial activities of the SIG.
• The SIG can apply for further funding of up to £500 once every three years (i.e. in years 1, 4, 7, 10 ..) contingent on successful outcomes and review of the SIG’s activities
• BNA can set up and host a webpage on the BNA website for SIG members’ use
• BNA to support by way of communications and co-ordination of groups
• BNA to ensure minutes and outcomes of SIGs are disseminated to all members 

Interested in forming a SIG? 

To find out more information about SIGs, including how to apply, please follow this link, to a specific section of our website.