International Partners

The BNA is proud to be part of the global neuroscience community. Our members span 50+ countries and we work with leading international organisations to promote collaboration and drive global impact in brain sciences.

Your BNA membership gives you access to the worldwide neuroscience community via our strategic partnerships with the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and through our links with the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO).

Society For Neuroscience (SfN)

BNA membership enables free access to the SfN online platform, Neuronline, and reduced price registration to the annual Neuroscience conference.

Obtaining a sponsored abstract slot for SfN annual meetings

BNA members are eligible to obtain one of the International Society Member (ISM) slots to submit an abstract to the annual SfN Neuroscience conference. ISM slots enable you to submit an abstract without support from a full SfN member, and it means you can attend SfN at reduced registration fees (the same as SfN member rates).

Please note:

You'll need a FENS ID - you can activate your FENS membership by following the instructions above.
There is a limited number of ISM slots, and they will be given out on a first come, first served basis.
All information relating to SfN meeetings, including deadlines, can be found on the SfN website.

How to apply:

Register for an ISM slot code

If you're not already, become a BNA member today
Find your FENS number (see instructions above)
Apply for an ISM abstract slot code via the ISM application form.
Accepted ISM slot holders will receive an abstract slot code and submission link directly from FENS.
If your abstract is accepted, you will be asked to accept the abstract fee

Register for SfN at reduced rates

Obtain your ISM abstract slot (see instructions above).
Register for the SfN meeting using the log in details provided in your ISM abstract slot notification email.
Discount will automatically be applied during the registration process.

Note - As an ISM slot code holder, you will not be able to register at reduced rates until non-member registration is open.

Instructions, deadlines, and guidelines to register for an ISM slot may change from year to year. To check details for the current year, see the FENS website.

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

BNA membership allows you to claim free membership of FENS. To access your free FENS membership and associated benefits you need a FENS ID number.

Benefits of FENS Membership

As a BNA member, you automatically receive FENS membership, giving you access to a wide range of benefits:

Discounted registration for FENS Forum, FENS Regional Meetings, The Brain Conferences and SfN annual meetings (via sponsored abstract submissions)
Free access to Neuronline, SfN’s platform with training materials, webinars, and virtual events
Travel grants and stipends for FENS and partner events, including summer/winter schools and international congresses
NENS exchange grants for training stays, plus funding to attend NENS national courses
Free job postings on the FENS network (save €80)
Free online access to the European Journal of Neuroscience (EJN), FENS’s official journal

How to find your FENS ID number:

If you have been a BNA member since before January this year

At the beginning of each year, our administration team passes a list of BNA members to FENS which sets them up with FENS memberships.

To find your FENS ID number:

Log into the FENS website using the email address that is linked to your BNA membership
Go to 'My account'
Click on the 'My membership' tab
Your FENS ID is top right of the 'My membership tab', and will have the format 'FENSXXXXX'

If you are a new BNA member

If you joined the BNA more recently, you may not have been added to the FENS database as part of the annual update and will need to request your FENS ID number directly.

Go to the FENS website
Click on the 'Join FENS' button on the top right
Click 'Become a FENS member through your society'
Select the British Neuroscience Association as your member society
Complete your contact details on the short form towards the bottom of the page

Once your BNA membership has been verified, you will receive a FENS ID by email.

Please note that requests for FENS ID numbers take 2 weeks to process. Please obtain your FENS ID in plenty of time before FENS meeting, award and submission deadlines.

If you are not yet a BNA member

FENS membership is available to all BNA members. Become a BNA member today.

Please note, undergraduate and postgraduate membership applications require proof of student status, which may take time to verify. Please allow 2 weeks before any FENS deadlines to allow for membership processing times.