As an extension of IBRO, the US and Canada Regional Committee provides support and outreach to neuroscientists in the developing world, and fosters international collaboration and engagement between established neuroscientists.
Through the IBRO Schools and International Activities, such as Teach the Teachers Workshops, our committee provides students with the opportunity to participate in world-class neuroscience education, by 1) bringing students to neuroscience courses within the US and Canada, and 2) supporting and developing neuroscience workshops in developing countries.
Below is a brief overview of some of our IBRO committee's programs. These programs are an example of how the IBRO mission is implemented, and reflect the collaborative effort of neuroscientists who support and are supported by IBRO. IBRO successfully works to disseminate knowledge to the world's neuroscientists; promote research and professional training activities across international borders; and enhance public awareness of neuroscience worldwide. The importance of international cooperation in advancing scientific education and in addressing the world's health concerns cannot be overstated; we hope you will support IBRO in their mission.
The IBRO Fellows Program
Our committee has worked with IBRO's Board of Schools and Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) course instructors to identify and encourage highly qualified and motivated research trainees from developing countries to apply for admission to summer neuroscience courses at the MBL and CSHL. Since 2002, nearly 50 students from more than 15 counties have been awarded IBRO fellowships facilitating their participation in these highly competitive and respected MBL and CSHL courses. Through collaboration with the Society for Neuroscience, past participants have also been awarded additional benefits including: travel fellowship to annual SfN meeting for abstract presenters; orientation to the SfN meeting; mentor matching at SfN meeting; complimentary registration for SfN meeting; professional development or short course programs; and complimentary SfN membership for two years.
International Activities
Neuroscience Workshops: The USRC works with other IBRO regional committees and local organizations to bring neuroscience education to the developing world. Neuroscience courses have been held in a variety of locations including Vietnam, South Africa, and Venezuela. In 2009 our committee supported the Society for Neuroscience in Turkey, who held the Fifth EGE Biennial International Neuroscience Graduate Summer School in Izmir, Turkey from June 29-July 3, 2009. The topic for the course was, "Neuro-Glial Interactions from Womb to Tomb in Health & Disease." This course was targeted to junior scientists and was designed to advance the knowledge, technical skills and professional attitudes of neuroscientists in the following countries and regions: Turkey; the Balkans Eastern Europe; the Mediterranean; Middle East; the Turkic States; and Black Sea Region. In addition to financial support, which was provided via the US. National Institutes of Health Neuroscience Blueprint Group, our committee assisted in curriculum focusing on the ethical use of animals in research.
Teach the Teachers: A Call for Integrated Neuroscience Education
This program focuses training efforts in Africa for the next several years and will establish a network of instructors that will sustain continued progress in neuroscience education. By holding each annual workshop in a different region of Africa, a comprehensive student population will be reached. We intend that enduring regional resource centers will facilitate sharing of resources and knowledge with student-teachers at various levels of training. By training instructors, these workshops present a unique service within the African neuroscience community. Pedagogical training offered at the workshops prepare trainees to develop new lectures and course materials independently. The trainees take these teaching tools to students and fellow instructors at their home universities to build the strength of their individual training programs and teach the regional leaders of tomorrow. The first Teach the Teachers Workshop was held in Senegal in 2008; the 2009 program was held in Egypt in conjunction with the Society of Neuroscience in Africa (SONA) conference. Each of these programs represents a collaborative effort of international neuroscientists and local organizations (i.e. African Regional Committee, National Academy of Sciences, and Society for Neuroscience, U.S. National Institutes of Health) brought together through IBRO.
